Graveslab in Kilcarn

The graveslab of Humphry Barry (L 1.9m; Wth 1.05m) with a crest that occupies most of the stone is in the chancel of Kilcarn parish church (ME031-003----). The date is not recorded (FitzGerald 1908, 611; 1912) but is probably 17th century, and the legend is now completely illegible. FitzGerald (1908) describes it as: At the east end of the church bearing a coat-of-arms impaled, a scroll, and a crest – a dog’s head, all in high relief. The arms are: On the dexter half: Three bars for Barry. On the sinister side: a chevron between three pheons; for Forster. The inscription, which is in low relief, is barely decipherable; all that, with great difficulty, can be deciphered is: HERE LYETH THE BODY OF HVMPHRY BARRY OF / KILCARN [WHO] DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE / 17TH DAY OF MA[ ] ALSO [ ] FOSTER HIS WIFE [ ] TED THIS LIFE THE 28TH / DAY OF MARCH [ ] MONVMENT WAS ERECT / ED BY .....OF / HIS .... Some of the letters are conjoined. This inscription probably belongs to the second half of the seventeenth century. At the foot of the slab is a skull and cross-bones in relief with an incised ‘ memento more’ over them. Mr. G. D. Burtchaell, Athlone Pursuivant of Arms, has kindly supplied me with the following information about the persons above: Humphry Barry was a son of Richard Barry, Alderman of Dublin, by his wife, Ann, daughter of James Cusack of Dublin. His wife, Susanna, was the daughter of Charles Forster, also an Alderman of Dublin, by whom he had issue sons and daughters. Date of upload: 9 January, 2015

Medieval Christian graveslab, 17th century. It is significant as a rare example of early modern funerary art in the region, featuring a prominent family crest.