Tomb - effigial

The National Monuments Service's description

A fragment of a 13th-century effigy has been built into the S end of the W wall of the graveyard (KK027-02910-) which is associated with the parish church of St Kieran of Kells (KK027-029009-). Kells priory (KK027-029004-) lies c. 120m to the N.
The slab (L 0.48m; Wth 0.39-0.46m) is quite worn with a bad cracking running roughly vertically from the sinister shoulder to the base of the slab. It is described by Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 180, cat. no. 127; vol. 2, plate 21) as, 'the upper part of the effigy of a woman. The head is missing as is also the body from the waist downwards. The right arm can be seen holding the mantle string, and there is a brooch on the breast below the throat level. The left arm apparently hangs down by the side'. Higgins (2007, 465 and plate 7.3) notes that the dexter (figure's right) arm is wearing a gauntlet or glove, as evidenced by a flared feature below the wrist and describes the ring brooch in a garment with a V-shaped neckline which falls in folds or pleats.

Ref.:
Higgins, J. 2007 The medieval funerary monuments. In M. Clyne, (ed.), Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne, 453-67. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Dublin.

See attached:
KK027-029011-_01 Effigy's position in graveyard wall

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 10 May 2023

References

Clyne, M. 2007 Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Dublin.

Hunt, J. 1974 Irish medieval figure sculpture 1200-1600, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish University Press.