Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

Formerly in the medieval church (KK023-036001-) of Grange which stood within the graveyard (KK023-036002-). According to Hogan (1880-83, vol. 2, 43-4), the remains of the S wall of the medieval church, ‘formed the boundary between the avenue to the chapel door [present RC church] and the graveyard down to a few years since; its foundations are still traceable, and up against the exterior of this wall was erected, over two hundred and forty years since, by Madame Purcell, an altar tomb in memory of her husband Richard Comerford, of Ballybur. A large tree had been sown contiguous, and its roots so undermined the structure that the late Rev. Richard Walsh, C.C., who resided in the chapel house, for the purpose of saving it determined to cut down the tree; but in the operation the tree was allowed to fall on the monument, and it is now a heap of loose, but very carefully dressed and still uninjured cut stone. The monument was an altar tomb, of some architectural pretensions; its reredos was surmounted by an architrave and pediment, supported by detached pillars, resting on corbels or consols at each side, and between them, in the centre of the reredos, was an entablature resembling a gateway. This entablature is still perfect. It bears the following inscription, cut in incised Roman capitals: D.O.M. SACRVM Amoris mortisque monumentum RICHARDUS COMERFORD ARMIGER DOMINUS DE BALLIBVR VIR VERE PIVS PROBVS PRVDENS FORTIS VARIIS IN REPBCLICA MVNERIBVS PACE BELLOQUE SVMMA INTEGRITATE PERFENCTVS OBIIT 15 IVNII 1637 POSVIT RICHARDO MARITO SVO CHARISSIMO SIBI AC LIBERIS MARIA PVRCELL OBIIT MARIA PURCELL ---- DEFVNCTIS VIATOR BENE PRECARE. [Translation] – Sacred to God, most excellent, most mighty – A monument of love and death. Richard Comerford, Knight, Lord of ballybur, a truly pious, upright, prudent, valiant man, after filling in time of peace and war with strictest rectitude many public offices of trust, died on the 15th June, 1637. Mary Purcell erected this monument to her husband, Richard, who was most dearly beloved by herself and children. Mary Purcell died -----. O traveller! Of your goodness, pray for the departed.]’.
Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 391) refers to the wall monument as being, ‘now entirely broken down’ and he could not locate the inscribed slab described by Hogan.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 10 August 2021

References

Hogan, J. 1880-83 Notes on ancient churches and castles of Ballybur Inchihologan. Transactions of the Ossory Archaeological Society 2, 33-49.

Cockerham, P. 2009 My body to be buried in my owne monument: the social and religious context of Co. Kilkenny funeral monuments, 1600-1700. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 109C, 239-365.

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