Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Lying prostrate in the S aisle of the nave of St Mary’s church (KK026-010012-), Callan. A straight-sided limestone slab (L 1.77m; Wth 0.78m; T 0.12m) which has a vertical crack on the surface from the top sinister side to just below midway. A small portion of the upper sinister corner is missing. It is decorated in relief with a seven-armed banded cross, the cross-head having curvilinear interlace and fleur-de-lys terminals. The cross-shaft rests on a stepped cross-base. There is an inscription in the border in Latin, in raised Black Letter script. It begins on the upper dexter corner and continues along the top and down the sinister side. The dexter side has a raised border but no inscription. The date ‘1586’ is carved on the border beneath the cross-base. The inscription has been transcribed by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 305) as, ‘Hic jacet Henricus Hedian quondam burgesis ville Callanie qi obiit xxi die Junii 1586’ and translated as, ‘Here lies Henry Hedian, formerly burgess of the town of Callan, who died June 1st, 1586’.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 19 November 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.