Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

At St Mary's parish church (KK019-026115-) in Kilkenny. A rectangular slab (L 2.16m; Wth 0.94m), mensa for early 16th-century altar-tomb or ledger, made from fossiliferous limestone. Decorated in false-relief with a seven-armed segmental cross-head with stylised fleur-de-lis terminals (Ó Drisceoil 2006, 39). The cross-head rises from a shaft which, in turn, rises from a stepped base. The shaft is flanked on either side by streamers, the left of which is inscribed. The shaft also contains part of the inscription. At the top of the shaft is a knob containing interlace ornament. Latin blackletter marginal inscription and at left and right of shaft, carved in false relief. Lightly incised stonemasons guide lines present on the right of the cross-shaft.
The marginal inscription reads:
Hic Jacit Robert Filius Shee quondam burgensis ville Kilkenne q obiit qunto Die Mieus Julii A.D. MCCCC XI IX Et Katriona Sherloke Uxor Illis Q Obiit XV Die Meas ... [illegible]
Which translates as:
Her lies Robert fitz Shee burgess of the town of Kilkenny who died in the month of July 1499? and his wife Katherine Sherlock who died 15th …[illegible]
The internal inscription reads:
Hic Jacet bonefectus et dilcretus ac Lrat profude vic Thomas Sheeth qoud burges ville kilkennie q obit xxxi die mex marchii A.D. MCCCCC XI III A + or Isabella Butler IX ….. q obit die mex Octobris A.D. M.V. 1° (Left of cross shaft) Hic Jacet Michael (unfinished) (Right side of cross shaft)
Which translates as:
Here lies ….Thomas Shee burgess of the town of Kilkenny who died 31stday March 1514..and Isabella Butler …who died the Month of October ….. Here lies Michael.
It was set into the floor of the former 'monuments room' in the N transept in the 1960s, removed 2015. Currently in the S transept.

Compiled by: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Date of upload: 23 November 2022

References

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2006 A collection of previously unpublished medieval burial monuments from St. Mary's Church, Kilkenny City. Old Kilkenny Review 58, 29-46.