Grave Yard

On S side of roadway, at N end of Mourne Abbey (9438). Wedge-shapedgraveyard (c. 40m SW-NE; c. 22m NW-SE) enclosed by stone wall; walls to SEand SW not marked on 1842 OS 6-inch map; at centre, ruin of Mourne Abbey church. In occasional use; headstones date to 19th and 20th centuries; many low uninscribed gravemarkers noted. Prostrate grave slab (L 1.45m; Wth at head 0.75m; Wth at base 0.68m) located immediately E of church; upper portion broken. Design consists of ringed cross, with multi-petalled motif at centre; cross-shaft terminates in pillar-base form at base of slab. Upper portion of slab is separated from lower two-thirds by narrow band. Above band, cross-shaft flanked by two fish; below band by 2 equal-armed crosses with bifurcated terminals. Paired lobes or leaves spring from cross-shaft immediately below cross-head and just below flanking equal-armed crosses; latter two balanced by further lobes springing from raised marginal border.Second grave slab, now in Kilshannig churchyard (North Cork), said to have come from Mourne Abbey. Design on this stone consists of seven-armed ringed cross with fleur-de-lis terminals. Shaft, banded at base of cross-head, flanked by two plain square raised panels, probably intended for heraldic shields; below this, leafy frond springs from sinister side of cross shaft. Raised border occurs along three surviving edges of slab. A 16th-century date has been suggested for both of these slabs (Maher 1994). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009