Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Lying face down at the E end of the S aisle of the nave of St Mary’s church (KK026-010012-), Callan. Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 304) describes a slab lying flat on the ground beneath the wall monument (KK026-010061-) for Thomas Comerford who died in 1629. It is inscribed ‘OSTIVM MONVMENTI, i.e. the entrance to the vault’ (ibid.). The straight-sided limestone slab (L 1.16m; Wth 0.72m; T 0.14m) is decorated in raised relief, within a border, with a three-armed cross with large trefoil terminals and lozenge-shaped centre. There is a sun with face motif in the upper dexter corner and a crescent moon with face motif in the upper sinister corner, both between the cross-head and the border. Beneath the cross-head, on either side of a three-barred knop, there is a floral motif. The cross-shaft rests on a curving calvary mount with an incised skull in the centre. There are three rectangular depressions cut into the surface of the slab, one in the centre of the cross-head, one damaging the4 knop and floral motif on the dexter side and on across on side of the cross-shaft near the base. The inscription, in raised Roman capitals, within the sinister border, starts on the upper sinister side. The first ‘M’ of ‘MONVMENTI’ is carved in an interlace style. The sides of the slab are very roughly cut.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 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.