Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the graveyard (KK015-030006-) of a medieval church (KK015-030005-). A medieval coffin-shaped limestone slab (top max. Wth 0.5m; base Wth at present ground level 0.33m; T 0.3m; H above present ground level 1m) with chamfered edge (Wth 0.1m) and decorated with an incised fleur-de-lis cross. It has been erected as a headstone approx. 20m W of the ruinous C of I church, built on and possibly incorporating the medieval church. Originally this was the coffin-lid of a 13th or 14th-century sarcophagus. It may have been the graveslab of an Anglo-Norman knight possibly of the Freney family who resided within the vicinity of the church and graveyard. Freneystown castle (KK015-031----) is located approx. 545m to the SE of this graveyard. Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 361) mentions, 'a fragment of a coffin-shaped slab with cross down the centre' within the graveyard. He may be referring to this graveslab, which is also described by Birthisle (1992, 1012-13).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 7 March 2016

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.

Birthistle, D. 1992 Medieval tomb slab at Freneystown. Old Kilkenny Review 4, (4), 1012-13.