Crucifixion plaque

The National Monuments Service's description

The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 182) recorded the following about a 17th century crucifixion plaque in Knockainy graveyard (LI032-141005-); 'Crucifixon plaque. 17th cent. A limestone panel, which may have come from a table tomb, is in the porch of the church. Christ is shown in the centre in relief in a recessed panel flanked by two shallower panels inscribed with an IHS and phaeons. His feet rest on a third IHS. This slab is said to have had an inscription in memory of the Countess of Bath. Dims: H. 63cm W. 66.5cm T. 13cm.
Described by Rev. Seymour as following; 'In the belfry of the older church (all now remaining) are two carved stones 'A small square one with our Lord crucified. The letters I.H.S. are cut on it three times, and under two of them is a pheon. This stone originally bore an inscription to the memory of Rachel, Countess of Bath, who resided at Doon Castle, and built and endowed the church at Loughgur. A former rector, apparently disliking the wording of this inscription, had it broken off, and it is not now to be found' (Seymour 1907-9, 398).

A similar crucifixion slab to the one described above is now standing up against the E wall inside St. John's Church. It is similar but not the same as the one described above by Seymour and appears to have possibly been one of the end panels of a table tomb with the other end panel described above now missing. The present slab contains a crucified Christ on the Cross carved in false relief on a central recessed panel with I H S and cross rising from the H beneath the feet of Christ. The crucified figure is flanked on either side by a Christogram carved in false relief that is set into a recessed panel. The Christogram consists of an I H S with the H surmounted by a cross with three nails below.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 12 June 2019

References

Seymour, Rev. St. J. D. 1907-9 County Limerick: Knockainey. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 7, 397-8.

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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.