Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

Fixed to the E wall of the N aisle of the nave of the S of the 13th-century church of St Mary’s (KK020-060006-) in Gowran. A rectangular polished limestone Renaissance wall monument (H 2.1m; Wth 1.41m) surmounted by a rectangular frieze with cornice (H 0.58m) and inverted shield pediment (H 0.69m), the latter with a shield within impaled with the arms of Keally on the dexter side and Nash over White on the sinister side. It rests on a plinth with projecting piers and moulded cornice and base, which in turn rests on an altar-type base (H 0.91m; Wth 2.09) with moulded altar top and plinth. The inscription, in English in raised Roman capitals, is on a recessed plaque in the centre of the monument. It is transcribed by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 406) as, ‘HERE LIETH THE BODIES OF MR. JAMES KEALLY, SOMETIME OF THE TOWNE OF GAWRAN, GENTLEMAN, WHO DIED ANO DNI 16[ ] AND OF MRS. ELLEN NASHE, HIS FIRST WIFE WHO DIED THE 30 DAY OF THE MONETH OF JVLY ANO DNI 1640 AND OF MRS. MARY WHITE, HIS SECOND WIFE, WHO DIED THE [ ] DAY OF THE MONETH OF [ ] ANO DNI 16[ ]. HE ERECTED THIS MONVMENT FOR HIMSELFE, HIS WIFVES AND CHILDREN IN THE MONETH OF DECEMBER ANO DNI 1646’. Also inscribed is, ‘ Both wifves at once alive he could not have: Both to injoy at once he made this grave’. The recess is square with a semi-circular head. On either side of the head there is an armorial shield, one bearing two lions rampant supporting a castle, triple-towered for Kealy; impaling three doves with olive branches in their beaks for Nash and the other shield has the same arms for Kealy, impaling a chevron between three roses for White (Carrigian 1905, vol. 3, 406). The central recess is framed by a projecting pier on either side and surmounted by a moulded entablature with raised flowers decorating the frieze. A similar wall monument (KK020-060038-) is located in the 17th-century mortuary chapel, attached externally to the S wall of the nave.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 17 September 2019

References

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