Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in the graveyard of St John's (LI005-017042-). An inscribed stone with Latin inscription (Phillipus filius Mauricii) and symbols of a shoemaker (hence the term The Slipper Stone) described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 326) as following; 'a panel, probably from a table tomb'. A photograph taken 1910-12 suggests a distinct narrowing as in a 16th/17th century graveslab.
Described by Fogerty (1913, 376-7) as following; ' "The Slipper Stone." There is one ancient slab known as "the Slipper Stone," on account of the symbols of the brogue-maker's trade on it. The symbols are two in number, the sole of a brogue and a cutting instrument used by brogue-makers. Judging by the style of lettering in the inscription, which is crude, and a mixture of Roman capitals and old English, the slab may belong to the early seventeenth century. The inscription commences at the top of the slab and continues down the right-hand side, then up the left edge, following on with the four short lines under the Philippus (the l in which word, it will be noticed, is upside down); it reads, with the contractions expended :
—
Philippus filius Mauricii capuc (?) . . .
Hoc condidit monumentum; cujus animae
propicietur Deus, Amen.

I.e. Philip, son of Maurice Capuc . . . erected this monument, to whose soul God be merciful, Amen'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 22 November 2019

References

Fogerty, G. 1913 Limerick, St. John's Graveyard. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 8, 370-7.

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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.