Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Another graveslab (dims 1.83m x 0.82m; T 0.13m) in the chancel of Ardmulchan church (ME025-020----) has some decoration in relief and the fragmentary Latin inscription in relief referred to Walter Porter, who died in 1623 (FitzGerald 1910, 135), but it it no longer legible. It is described (ibid.) as:
The slab (6 feet long and 2 feet 8 inches broad (dims c. 1.83m x c. 0.81m) is of a very uncommon design, as along its length, in the upper portion, are four carvings in high relief, in the following order, commencing from the left, viz:
I A shield, bearing two coats-of-arms, impaled. In the dexter half: ‘gules, three bells, two and one, argent.’ for Porter. In the sinister half: ‘gules, a fesse between five martlets (or swallows), three and two, argent,’ for Dowdall. Heavy diapering, or mantling, falls on either side of the shield, and on a fragment of scroll (incomplete) appear the letters FRO and LVS.
II A large ornamental S, which is the initial letter of the inscription.
III A full-faced sun, with short, wavy rays.
IV A large stag’s head on a ‘wreath’, to the mouth of which is attached a scroll, inscribed: INSIGNIA PORTERANA (several letters conjoined) i.e. ‘The Porter Crest’. A big fragment is broken off the left top corner of the slab, carrying with it much of the left side of the coat-of-arms.
An inscription in small raised capitals, many of which are conjoined, occupies the lower portion of the slab: but it is quite worn away in a large portion of the commencement of the lines, which are seven in number, the last line containing the date 4 Junii 4. Except for the figure 4, the year is quite illegible, though it belongs to the seventeenth century. This slab closely resembles in design the Marward slab at Skreen in this county. From the fragments remaining of the inscription it is clear that this monument belongs to Walter Porter and Ellenor Dowdall, his wife, whose arms appear on the shield. They are the persons referred to in the following Funeral Entry (see Journal, ‘Funeral Entries, No. 292, vol. 7, P 111).
‘Walter Porter of Kingstown in the County of Meath died July the 8 1623. His first wife was Jane Cusack, and had issue James: and secondly married Ellenor daughter of [Dowdall] of Staffordstown, by whom he had issue William and Nicholas, John, George, Marier, Elizabeth Katherin and Joan.’
Walter Porter was the son of Simon Porter, who died on the 31st January, 1585. His wife Ellenor was the daughter of Mathew Dowdall (ob. 29th January, 1584), of Staffordstown. The Porter property consisted of lands in ‘Kingstone, Carnolse, Harristone, Angestone Barrett, Porterstone, Damalstone, Ballasare, and Morestone Curragh.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 11 September, 2104

References

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1910 Ardmulchan churchyard Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead, Ireland, vol. 8, 3, 134-7