Stone sculpture

The National Monuments Service's description

In St Rioc’s graveyard (KK019-025002-), Kilkenny City there is a limestone figure sculpture representing the Trinity, consisting of the seated figure of God the Father, seated with the right hand raised, probably in the gesture of benediction, though the fingers are broken off, and the left hand under and supporting the sinister arm of the cross. God the Son is carved on the cross which is between the knees of the Father and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, is carved above the arms of the cross. The top of the sculpture, including the head of God the Father, is missing, with the break running from the top sinister side to just above the arm of the cross on the dexter side. It is possible that this is the Trinity sculpture which was illustrated in c. 1812 by George Millar and located to St Patrick’s graveyard (KK019-026172-), which lies c. 900m to the ESE, but which has not been found there (Roe 1979, 128, 145-6). The sculpture is similar to the limestone Trinity (KK026-010032-) in Callan, Co. Kilkenny which has been dated to the first half of the 16th century (Roe 1979, 110). A 15th-century alabaster sculpture of the Trinity has also been found in the Black Abbey church of the Dominican friary (KK019-026021-), c. 600m to the N (Roe 1972, 33-6; Hunt and Harbison 1976, 310-21).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 30 September 2020

References

Hunt J. and Harbison, P. 1976 Medieval English alabasters in Ireland. Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 65, no. 260, 310-21.

Roe, H. M. 1972 A medieval alabaster figure: Black Abbey, Kilkenny. Old Kilkenny Review, no. 24, 33-6.

Roe, H.M. 1979 Illustrations of the Holy Trinity in Ireland: 13th to 17th centuries. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 109, 101-50.