Tomb - chest tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

The 'monument' of Thomas and Johanna Rice dated 1622 which seems not to have survived the rebuilding of St John's (LI005-017041-) in 1761 (Bradley et. al. 1989, 325-6; Westropp 1904-5, 358).
Fitzgerald (1826-7,558-9) described this tomb as following; 'Before the alterations in 1763, it contained a handsome monument of the Power family, which was surrounded by figures of the twelve Apostles carved in stone, with the family arms, &c. and underneath was the following inscription

THOMAS POWER, quondam civis Limericensis, et ejus uxor JOANNA RICE, hoc monumentum haeredibus suis
construxerunt, in quo ambo sepeliuntur. Ora pro eis pius lector

Quisquis eris qui transis,
Sta, perlege, plora,
Sum quod eris, fueramque quod es,
Pro me precor ora.
Hoc finito, A. D. 1622.

Thomas Power, formerly citizen of Limerick, and Joanna his wife, erected this tomb for their posterity, in which both of them are interred. Pious reader, pray for them!

Traveller, pause, improve your time
I, like you, have seen my prime,
What I am, thou soon must be,
Then prepare to follow me.
Finished in the year of our Lord, 1622.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 21 November 2019

References

Fitzgerald, P. 1826-7 The history, topography, and antiquities of the county and city of Limerick. 2 vols. Dublin.

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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.