Tomb - chest tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

Set into a pier in the internal face of the N wall of the medieval tower of the Franciscan friary (TS083-019003-). In 1840 the panel had been outside, leaning against the S wall of the church (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 71 (214)). The panel is incomplete and consists of a seated figure of the Virgin enthroned with the Child on her knee, he is holding an orb surmounted by a cross in his left hand. The figure is within an ogee-headed niche with foliate spandrels and is separated from a dexter figure, in a similar niche, by a pillar. Only the sinister half of the dexter niche survive, it bears the figure of a man carrying a book in his left arm with a lamb carved on the book, suggesting that it represents St John (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 226). The OS letters suggest that the full panel is not currently visible as according to O'Keeffe's description there is an inscription in black letter script above the figures, the contracted letters 'sbpt1' above St John and 'Aue Maria g - - ' above the Virgin which he interprets as the prayer Ave Maria gratia plena (Hail Mary full of grace) (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 71 (214)).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 9 January 2012

References

Hunt, J. 1974 Irish medieval figure sculpture 1200-1600, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish University Press.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. Bray.