Graveslab in Kilcoolyabbey

Secured to the N wall of the chancel of Kilcooly Abbey (TS043-034001-), within the western recess. This is a tapering limestone slab (L 1.94m; Wth at top 0.6m; Wth at base 0.54m; T 0.16m) decorated with a seven-armed floriated cross, with a three bar knop under the cross head and the shaft resting on a curving Calvary mount. There is a shallow chamfer (Wth 0.025m) around the edge of the slab. The latin inscription in black letter script is within a margin on three sides of the slab; it does not continue along the base. This graveslab is likely to be the 'Floor slab, much worn' mentioned by Hunt (1950, 28). It has been transcribed and translated by Carrigan (1903, 455) as: HIC JACET JACOBUS STOC ET MARGARETA BUTHELLER EIUS UXOR QUI ME FIERI FECERUT QUOR AIAB' / PPICIETUR DEUS. PR. & AVE MARIA. PATRICIUS OTUNY SCRIPSIT ANNO DNI / MILLESSIMO A DNI [sic] MCCCCC / LXXX VII, 'Here lie James Stokes and Margaret Butler, his wife, who got me made. On whose souls God have mercy. Our father and Hail Mary. Patrick O'Tunny inscribed [this tomb] A.D. 1587'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 01 February 2012 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/2010).

Christian graveslab; medieval period (probably 12th–14th century). The seven-armed cross is a common Christian symbol of this era, indicating a religious or ecclesiastical context, likely associated with the Cistercian Kilcooly Abbey.