Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

In the graveyard (TS070-081003-) of Coolmundry Church (TS070-081001-), 4.7m SE of the SE angle of the nave, in the grounds of Grove Estate. A tapering sandstone slab (H above ground 0.96m; Wth at top 0.46m; Wth at base 0.33m; average T 0.15m). The slab is decorated with an incised circular cross-head (diam. 0.185m) consisting of two concentric lines (0.02m apart) which project out to form three short rectangular arms (L 0.05m; H 0.05m) to the N, E and W. The cross-shaft consists of two bands formed by three vertical incised lines. The base of the cross is hidden beneath the soil. The slab appears to have a shouldered top, the raised central piece (Wth c. 0.26m) of which is broken. The grooved border (Wth 0.035m), which runs along both sides of the front of the slab, continues along the top and turns upward into the now broken off raised central piece. The graveslab is very similar to two other graveslabs (TS070-101008-; (TS070-101009-) which are located c. 1km to the SW, on the opposite side of the Clashawley River, in the graveyard (TS070-101002-) of the medieval church (TS070-101001-) of Kiltinan. With these examples the cross-heads are buried and the cross-shafts and cross-bases are visible. The decorative style suggests a 13th/14th century date for these graveslabs.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 12 December 2017

References

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