Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

In the graveyard (TS070-040044-) of the Augustinian abbey (TS070-040004-), lying on its dexter side against the external E wall of the N transept, adjacent to the exterior of the N wall of the nave. The lower sinister corner of this slab has broken away, and the lower sinister corner is chipped. This slab (L 2.17m; Wth 0.98m; average T 0.07m) has a chamfer (Wth 0.03m) along the top and base and sinister edge (Maher 1997, 58). It is decorated with a seven-armed segmental-headed cross, in relief, with fleur-de-lis terminals. The cross-head has a floral motifs in each of the four central sections. There is a three-barred knop at the base of the cross-head and another at the base of the cross-shaft. The cross-shaft rests on a pillar-base form. On the dexter side of the cross-shaft there are the letters IHS in raised Black Letter script. On the sinister side there is a shield, an ogee-based rectangle, which shows a chief indented debruised by a bendlet (Crotty 2012, 58). Crotty suggests this is the coat of the Dunboyne branch of the Butler family, though the Power family of County Waterford also bore a chief indented (ibid.). A faded inscription, in Black Letter script, runs along the top, sinister and base border. It is best preserved along the top which reads: HIC JACET THADEUS OWNS MEAGHER.. (Maher 1997, 58). Knowles (1903, 113) translated the inscription as: Here lie Thaddeus Owns Meagher and Honora Keeghan, his wife, wo erected this monument before their death, A.D. 1540'.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 4 March 2015

References

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

Crotty, G. 2012 Heraldic memorials in Fethard. Fethard. Fethard Historical Society.

Knowles, Rev. J. A. 1903 Fethard: its abbey, etc. Dublin. James Duffy and Co.