Graveslab in Thurles Townparks

Situated to the E of Barry's Bridge at the end of St Mary's Avenue on a natural rise of ground in undulating countryside. A modern church located in a graveyard which may have been associated with the medieval church (TN041-042009). It is possible that this was not the site of the medieval church as it is located outside the medieval core of the town (Bradley 1985, 54). By the late thirteenth century St Mary's church had come under the control of Owney Abbey in Limerick (Johnstone 1989, 187). In the graveyard there is a sixteenth/seventeenth-century recumbent graveslab located on the S side of the church, S of the W door, consisting of an eight-armed floriated cross with a knop under which are the symbols of the Passion. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

A medieval Christian graveslab; significance relates to its potential association with an earlier medieval church in the area.