Tomb - chest tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the graveyard (KK023-072002-) associated with the medieval church of Burnchurch (KK023-072001-), embedded in the ground 8m E of the E gable of the C of I church. This is the upper portion of a graveslab (surviving L 1.08m; Wth 0.86m) and the decoration, in false relief, is very worn. Only the dexter arm of the cross-head is faintly visible, however, there is enough surviving to suggest that the cross-head, with fleur-de-lis terminals, has a combination of rectilinear and curvilinear interlace, very similar to the graveslab of William Donoghou, dated 1597, in St Canice’s Cathedral (Barry et al. 1985, 91-2, Fig. 44). It also shares a sun motif, within the border, in the dexter angle.

It is described by Carrigan (ibid. 377) as a mensa, having an inscription, ‘in raised Old English [Black Letter] lettering, [which] is on two pieces of the covering slab of a large altar-tomb, the remaining fragments of the slab are missing. The Christian name of the occupant of the tomb is lost, but very probably it was Garret. “Gerrot fitz Thomas Fitzgerald of Burnchurch, gentleman,” had a pardon, Feb. 25th, 1561-2; he was still living in 1569’.  The inscription is given as, ‘….ome Fitzgeralde nuper de Burnchurch generosus Constabul ...Castelli Kilkenie qi obiit po die Martis 1586. ……m quod eris fueramq. ….or ora. Walterus Kerin fabricavit ’, which translates as, ‘[Here lies Garret ? fitz] Thomas Fitzgeralde, late of Burnchurch, gentleman, Constable of the Castle of Kilkenny, who died March 1st 1586. [Whoe’er thou art that passest by, stand read, lament]. I am what you will be; I was [what you are]. Pray [for me I beseech you]. Walter Kerin made the tomb’ (ibid.). 

Within the graveyard there are also a number of medieval graveslabs (KK023-072004- to KK023-072010-) and two side panels from chest tombs (KK023-072008-; KK023-072011-).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

References

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

Barry, S., Bradley, J. and Empey, A. 1985 A worthy foundation: The cathedral church of St Canice Kilkenny. Mountrath, Portlaoise. The Dolmen Press.

Cockerham. P. and Harris, L. 2001 Kilkenny funeral monuments 1500-1600: a statistical and analytical account. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 101C, 135-88.