Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

A 17th century graveslab is located at the E end of the medieval church (ME020-011----) within Donore graveyard( ME020-011001-). It is sandatone (dims 1.55m x 0.98m; T 0.1m) and has a crest inscribed on the surface. It is dedicated to John Senet, who died in 1609 (D’Alton 1844, 2, 464; Wilde 1850, 243).
It has been described by Sadlier (1913-14) as:
Large altar-tomb, in ruined chancel, with arms of ||Genet impaling BlaKe (?), and below the initials I.G. On either side of the shield, and running parallel to the sides of the slab, are the following lines: ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH / DRAW BREATH / IN HEALTH PREPARE FOR THE HOUR / OF DEATH.
Above and below the shield is the following: ....TH...THE / ......JOHN GENET / ....RIDGE ../ THIS TOMBE WHO DEPARTED / THIS LIFE 1690 (?) / THE POORE OF THE WORLDE THE / HEAVENS AND THE GRAVE HIS / ALMES HIS PRAISE HIS SOULE / AND DODIE HAVE...
This curious monument is evidently to John Genet, of Oldbridge, referred to in the previous inscription. The charge on the impaled shield is not quite clear, but appears to be a fret, so the arms are possibly those of Blake. To obtain its proper meaning the last four lines of the epitaph should be read thus: The poore have his Almes, / The worlde has his Praise, / The Heavens have his Soule, and / the Grave has his Bodie.

See attached image of the graveslab

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Amended: 2 September, 2014

References

D'Alton, J. 1844 The history of Drogheda and its environs, (2 vols). Dublin. Author.

Sadlier, T. U. 1913-14 Donore Churchyard. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland, 9, 139-44.

Wilde, W. 1850 The beauties of the Boyne and its tributary, the Blackwater (2nd ed). Dublin. McGlashan.