Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

In a graveyard (MA118-022013-). This finely carved 17th-century wall monument (H 0.55m; Wth 0.96m) commemorates Katherine Holcroft, who died in 1668. It is set high on the external wall face of St Mary’s church, a 19th-century Ireland church, which stands on the site of a medieval parish church (MA118-022008-). The memorial is likely to have been taken from the ruins of the early church when the current church was built in the early 1800’s. It is recorded by Bradley and Dunne (1989, 21-22) as follows: ‘Set into the outer face of the north wall. Limestone mural plaque, set inside a chamfered border, with skull and cross-bones above and the impaled arms of Holcroft and Ormsby below.
Inscription:
WRITE BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD
IN HOPE OF A JOYFULL RESURRECTION HERE UNDER/ LYETH
BURIED THE BODY OF KATHERINE HOL/ CROFT SECOND DAUGHTER
TO EDWARD ORMS/ BY LATE OF TOBERVADY IN THE COUNTY OF/
ROSCOMMON ESQUIRE AND LATE WIFE TO CH/ ARLES HOLCROFT OF
CLOONIGASHEL IN THE C/ OUNTY OF MAYO ESQ: THIRD SON TO
SIR HENRY/ HOLCROFT LATE OF ESTHAM IN THE COUNTY/ OF
ESSEX KNIGHT. SHEE WAS MARRIED EL/ EVEN YEARS AND THIRTY
FOURE DAYS/ AND DIED THE XXth OF JAN: M: DC: LXVIII
WEARI’D OF TH’ EARTH TO HEAV’N BLEST SOUL TH’ ART GONE/
ANGELS REJOYCE HERE WEE OUR LOSSE BEMOANE

Mems Dead iv (1898-1900), 283.’

Attached images:
MA118-022009-_01.JPG Location of wall monument in N wall of church
MA118-022009-_02.JPG detail of inscription
MA118-022009-_03.JPG detail of Holcroft and Ormsby arms
MA118-022009-_04.JPG detail of skull and cross bones

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 10 June 2022

References

Bradley, J. and Dunne, N. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Mayo. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.