Graveslab in Bansha West

In the graveyard immediately E of the main road through Bansha. The Ara River flows due SE to the N. The graveyard is a large sub-rectangular raised area with a significant mound at its centre upon which an 18th/19th-century church is situated. The OS letters (1840) record a 17th-century Butler graveslab located at the E end of the church. It is described as an ornamented slab bearing the following inscription in raised lettering around its perimeter -'Here lyeth Theob: Butler, grandson to Sr. Richard Butler of Knocktoher who discesed the 20th of March 1672. Pray for his soule' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 12). Seymour (1917-20, vol. 10, 136) also provides a transcriptin of the inscription which he notes as being 'in raised Roman characters' and he describes the decoration on the slab as consisting of 'an eight-point cross, the arms ending in fleur-de-lys, while on either side of the shaft are the conventional emblems of the Crucifixion'. This graveslab could not be located at time of inspection. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 02 February 2012

Graveslab in Bansha West is a medieval Christian burial slab, likely 12th to 16th century in date. Its presence indicates the long-standing religious and funerary use of the Bansha graveyard area.