Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

In the chancel of Clare Island Abbey (MA085-013001-).
This ornate 15th-century canopied wall tomb is set centrally in the N wall of the chancel. The tomb niche (D 0.75m) is framed by a tall, ogee-headed arch (Wth 2.35m) with an openwork tracery screen flanked by tall upright pinnacles, all carved in limestone. Beneath the arch is a low, plain-topped mensa or tomb chest (Wth 1.98m; H 0.56m) of serpentine, with a carved front panel consisting of six deeply cut, cusped ogee-headed arches. An interesting anomaly in the design is that the canopy is too wide for the mensa, and does not rest on its outer edges, as would be the norm. Instead, there are a number of rather roughly-cut stones at either end of the mensa, which clearly had to be inserted to support the canopy. The serpentine used in the chest is locally available, but the limestone for the canopy had to be imported from the mainland, and this may account for the discrepancy in the measurements (Manning et al. 2005, 175). The results of a 1999-2000 conservation project revealed traces of a painting of Christ on the cross on the wall face within the tomb niche, and it was discovered that the carved stone canopy had originally been embellished with red paint, integrating it with the overall decorative scheme of wall paintings in the chancel (Morton and Oldenburg 2005, 63-5).
There is no identifying inscription on the tomb, but its elaborate form and prominent position within the chancel suggest that it was reserved for a major benefactor of the church, presumably one of the O’Malley chiefs of the island (Stalley 2005, 139).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 31 October 2018

References

Morton, K. and Oldenburg, C. 2005 Catalogue of the wall paintings. In Manning et al. 2005 New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 4: The Abbey. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.

Manning, C. Gosling, P. and Waddell, J. (eds.) 2005 New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 4: The Abbey. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.

Stalley, R. 2005 The Abbey in its later Gothic context. In Manning et al. 2005 New Survey of Clare Island. Vol.4: The Abbey, 135-150.