Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

14th/15th century graveslab in the Arthur family chapel in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 316) as following; ‘Tapering limestone slab in two pieces under the O’Brien monument in the choir. Decorated in false relief with a two line encircled cross. The slab has four panels with a horse, a winged creature and two horse-like animals with interlaced tails. The tomb was found under the western entrance (Meredyth 1887, 5). The attribution of the tomb to Donal Mor O Briain is fanciful. Dims: L. 1.53m W. 0.53-0.42m.
Described by FitzGerald (1910, 128) as following; ' In what is now known as "the Arthur family Chapel", which adjoins the north transept, there are several slabs and fragments of others laid in the pavement. The most interesting one is a narrow brown slab bearing animals, foliage, and a cross, all cut in bold relief. According to tradition this slab, which measures 5 feet [1.5m] in length, marked the grave in the choir of Donal "more" O'Brien, King of Limerick, and founder of St. Mary's (circa 1172), who died in 1194. It is not quite correctly illustrated in the Rev. J. Dowd's History of the Cathedral, as the animals necks are not shown crossing over the shaft on the cross; this error also appears in our Journal, vol. iii, p. 88'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 15 November 2019

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Limerick (3 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Meredyth, F. 1887 A historic and descriptive sketch of St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick.

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1910 St Mary’s Cathedral. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 7, 124-36.