Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Lying in the choir of the cathedral (TS061-025003-) on the Rock of Cashel. A tapering slab (L 2.02m; Wth at top 0.59m; Wth at base 0.53m; T 0.1m) with two cracks across the face of the slab and the upper sinister corner is broken (Maher 1997, 72). It is decorated with a seven-armed segmental fleur-de-lis cross, carved in relief with a three-barred knop at the base of the cross-head surmounting the cross-shaft (ibid.). The cross-shaft rests on a pillar-base form (ibid.). Superimposed on the cross-shaft is a shield, possibly of the Archdeacon family (ibid.). There is a raised rectangular panel on either side of the cross-shaft, beneath the shield. A latin inscription, in Black Letter script, is discernible along the dexter and sinister sides and across the base (ibid.). It has been transcribed by FitzGerald (1901-03, vol. 5, 444) as: ... RICARDUS ARCDEKE ECCLIE...PCURATOR BUI' ET THESAURARI' MEUS EST FABRICATOR CUI PVIDECIA HAC ECCLIAM ORNAVIT ET ES' FRUCTU ANNALE I MULTIS AMPLIAVIT.... and translated (ibid., 445) as 'My maker [says the tomb] is Richard Archdeken proctor and treasurer of this church, whose forethought adorns this church and in many ways augmented its annual revenue...'.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 25 January 2012

References

Maher, D. 1997 Medieval grave-slabs of County Tipperary, 1200-1600 A.D. BAR British Series 262.

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1901-03 Cashel Parish – The Rock of Cashel. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 5, 434-48.