Graveslab in Donaghmore

Donaghmore church (TS077-027001-) was dedicated to St. Farannan who exiled himself to the Continent and died at Valcoidon, renamed Waser on the Meuse in 982 (Burke 1896, 24; Harbison 1970, 226). Lying in the nave is a graveslab (max. L c. 1.58m; max. Wth 0.48m; min. Wth 0.42m; T 0.1m), broken into three fragments, tapering slightly towards base. Portion of sinister side of graveslab is missing. Decorated with a three armed cross, terminated with trefoils with single cross-bands separating these from the arms (Maher 1997, 55). A pair of such banks divides the cross-head from the shaft and another, single, example occurs at the base of the shaft surmounting a pillar-base form (ibid.). Raised plain boarder (Wth 0.08m), no evidence of lettering. Edge of slab has a slight chamfer 0.02m wide. Based on comparitive sylistic evidence Maher (ibid. 25) suggests a late 14th/15th-century date for this graveslab. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011