What is recorded here

One column lies flat and one stands upright in the southwest quadrant of Abington graveyard, both still bearing the armless female figures carved for the altar-tomb of Dulamus Barry, who died in 1633. They were removed to Clonshavoy House and brought back by an old man named Hayes because they ever and always belonged at that tomb. The figures may have been copies of Sheela-na-gigs, placed either side of the tomb as guards, witnesses or jokes the sculptor made for death itself.

Two columns with caryatid like figures which formed part of the altar-tomb surround in the mausoleum (LI014-014011-) belonging to Dulamus Barry who died in 1633 are now in the SW quadrant of Abington graveyard (LI014-014006-). One of the columns lies flat on the surface of the graveyard while the other one (LI014-014027-) stands upright. The tomb was still intact in 1887 when it was photographed and described as an altar-tomb that had ‘fixed at the head of it, and the two curious female figures on pillars at each side. I was informed by an old man named Hayes that these figures have been removed to Clonshavoy House, with other carved stones; but, as they "ever and always" formed part of the Barry tomb, in which he was interested, he brought them back and re-erected them in situ himself ’ (Barry 1908, 73-4). The carved columns were described by Seymour (1907, 363) as following; ‘Lying beside this stone, is another carved slab which may have formed part of the same tomb. It has upon it in high relief our Lord on the Cross, and on either side a draped figure, representing the Virgin and St. John. A little beyond this are two curious figures, which appear to be the ones alluded to by W. R. Le Fanu in his note in the Kilkenny Journal. He says they were dug out of the mound outside the graveyard, and that they formed part of the Barry mausoleum. They represent nude, armless, female figures in very high relief, and appear to be copies of Sheela-na-gigs intended by the sculptor to be placed on each side of a tomb’. According to Dineley the Barry tomb was ‘ erected on the left hand, in a Chappel going up to ye altar of ye Abbatial Church" (Seymour 1907, 363). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien with details kindly provided by Colmán Ó Clabaigh of Glenstal Abbey. Date of upload: 3 August 2017

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