Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Lying E of the entrance to the Bolton Library within the graveyard (TS061-025035-) of St. John's C of I Cathedral which is on the site of a medieval church (TS061-025013-). This limestone slab (L 2.52m; Wth 1.19m; D 0.1m) has split lengthwise 0.125m from the dexter side and 0.19m from the sinister side with a further horizontal break on the lower sinister side (L 0.66m). The head of the slab is also broken in the sinister corner. It is decorated in low relief with an interlace cross with three fleur-de-lys arm terminals. Under the cross-head, on either side of the cross-shaft there is a heraldic shield, the dexter a portcullis over stag's antlers with the initials G. S. beneath; the sinister a lion rampant with the initials M. C. above. The cross-shaft, consisting of four parallel raised lines, rests on a curving calvary mount with a skull and bone within. An latin inscription in black letter script runs along the the top and dexter border and continues in two lines at the base of the slab, beneath the calvary mount. FitzGerald (1902, vol. 5, 249) provides a sketch with a transcription which reads: HIC JACENT GALFRIDUS SALL PATRICII FILIUS ET / MARGARETA CORCRAN EIUS UXOR, CIVES CASSELLEN QUI MORTALITATIS HUMANAE MEMORES HOC MONU / MENTU SIBI POSTERISQUE ADHUC DIU EXTRU / XERUT ANNO SALUTIS _ OBIIT ILLE DIE _ ANNO DMI 1622 AETATIS VERO SUAE _ ILLA _ Ao DMI _ / AETATIS SUAE. Garstin (ibid. 248) translates this as, 'Here lie Geoffrey Sall (son of Patrick) and Margaret Corcran his wife, citizens of Cashel, who, mindful of human mortality [whilst living?], constructed this monument for themselves [or himself?], in the year of salvation _ [blank]. He died on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year of our Lord 1622, in the [blank] year of his age. She in the [blank] year of our Lord, and the [blank] of her age'.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 31 January 2012

References

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1901-03 Cashel Parish – St. John's Cathedral. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 5, 247-50.