Graveslab in Knockgraffon

Lying among stone fragments at the base of a tomb niche in the S wall of the chancel of Knockgraffon church (TS075-019002-). Only a portion of the limestone slab is visible (L 0.7m; max. Wth 0.65m; Wth of upper surface 0.55m; T 0.23-0.28m) with two original edges, one being chamfered (Wth 0.09m) while the other upper edge is not. The surface is badly worn. There is an inscription on the chamfer in latin, in black letter script, which reads, 'Hic jacet Dominus'. The rest of the slab was visible when visited by O'Donovan (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 37 (97)) who described it as being 'much mutilated' and transcribed it as 'Hic jacet Dominus Matheus Kent quondam Rector de Knoccrafon, A.D. M CCCCC' which translates as 'Here lies Lord Matthew Kent formerly rector of Knockgraffon A.D. 1500'. Another transcription by Quinn (1900, vol. 4, 117) is roughly the same, though it appears to be more accurate than O'Donovan's and he gives the date as 1540. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 24 June 2013