What is recorded here

Knockainy West holds a graveslab carved in 1592 for Mathew Grady and his wife Joan, now standing vertically inside the bell-tower of St. John's Church rather than lying buried in the graveyard where it belonged. The stone measures over two metres long and carries a Latin prayer around its edge, asking others to remember the dead instead of forgetting them. It may have been moved during the 19th or 20th century to keep it visible, turning a private marker into a public warning that even forgotten lives can still speak through stone.

Late 16th century graveslab which marked the burial place of Mathew Grady of Knockainey Castle (LI032-141003-) which was moved from the graveyard and inserted into the internal face of the S wall of the bell-tower of St. John's Church (LI032-141004-) during the 19th / 20th century. Originally the graveslab was located in Knockainey graveyard (LI032-141005-) where it was described in 1840. In this year the Ordnance Survey recorded the following; 'In the graveyard, which is of the same age as the church (LI032-141004-), there has been found a tombstone belonging to the O'Grady family and bearing the date 1592' (OSNB, Knockainey parish). The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 182) recorded the following about the 16th century graveslab built into the internal face of the S wall of the bell-tower in Knockainy graveyard (LI032-141005-); 'Grave slab 1592 Rectangular. Fossiliferous limestone. Attached to the internal south wall of the tower. It has a marginal inscription in false relief Roman lettering: ORATE PRO ANI/ ABVS MATHEI GRADY ET IOHANEI NI AEDN VXORS EIVS CVI ME FIERI FERERVNT 16 OCT/ OBRIS AO 1592 Dims: L. 207cm W. 106cm T. 18cm (min)'. Described by Rev. Seymour as following; 'In the belfry of the older church (all now remaining) are two carved stones. A large slab, with inscription running round the edge in raised letters, the centre being blank. It is built perpendicularly into the wall' (Seymour 1907-9, 398). See attached drawing of graveslab taken from Seymour 1907-9, 398. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 April 2019

A 16th-century Christian graveslab; locally significant as the marker for Mathew Grady of Knockainey Castle.

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