Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the graveyard (KK027-020002-) of the medieval church of Ennisnag (KK027-020001-), Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 374-5) noted, ‘a coffin-shaped slab with a curiously-shaped incised cross running down the centre, and ending above in a human head, in high relief, resting on a pillow. This monument now stands upright at the head of a grave, and is deeply sunk in the ground. It has an inscription, in incised Lombardic, along under the right arm of the cross – strong evidence that it was erected to commemorate an ecclesiastic. The inscription is quite legible, though probably dating from the beginning of the 13th century. What remains of the inscription over ground – and it seems to give the full text – is JOHANNES FILIUS CALFRIDI. That is, [Here lies] John Fitz Geoffry. The graveslab is illustrated by O’Carroll (1974, 58) which shows a tapering slab with a head in relief resting on a pillow at the top and beneath this a four-armed cross with fleur-de-lys terminals and a lozenge centre. There is a circular knop at the top of the cross-shaft and the shaft rests on a stepped cross-base (ibid.).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 27 March 2023

References

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

O'Carroll, J. 1974 St. Rioch's churchyard. Old Kilkenny Review 6, no. 1, 57-8.