Tomb in Killeen

This is a knight and a lady in false relief (dims 2.13m by 1.18m at the top and 1.24m at the bottom; H 10cm) that has been damaged and is in the centre of the chancel. It has arches above the heads that are at the W, and the lady is at the right-hand side of the knight. The inscription is in gothic lettering around the edge and commemorates Christopher Plunkett and Joanne Cusack. It dates to c. 1445. (FitzGerald 1911, 411-12, No. IX; Moore 1970, 27, No. 7; Hunt 1974, 210, No. 194) It is described by FitzGerald as: A large, fractured slab bearing two effigies, a knight and his wife, with a black-letter inscription running around the edge. Until recently this tomb was in good condition, but it was wantonly broken by some servants of an English gentlemen who had taken Killeen Castle for a winter’s hunting. They placed a ladder against the church wall outside, climbed up, and, from the top of the wall, hurled down stones on to the effigies with disastrous results. The effigies are cut in very low relief (like the bishop on No. V). Their heads are surmounted by a double, richly carved canopy. The lady, lying on the right of the knight, wears the bullock-hoof-shaped head-dress, and her feet rest on a cushion. The knight is represented as clean-shaved; his feet rest on a small dog. In both figures the arms are doubled up so that the hands rest flat on their chests. The inscription is not legible in one or two places, and in the right-hand bottom corner a portion of the slab is broken off and lost. What is legible reads, with the contractions expanded: HIC IACENT CORPORA / CRESTOFORI PLUNKET, MILITIS, QUINDAM DEPUTATIS LOCUM TENIENTIS HIBERNIE, ET JOHANE CUSAK UXORIS SUE, QUI FIERI FECERUNT ISTAM ECCLESIAM, ORATE PRO ANIMA NICHOLAI PLUNKET [MILITIS QUI MULTA BONA DEDIT ISTI ECCLES]IE. ORATE PRO ANIMABUS DOMINE ELIZABETHE PLUNKET, JOHANIS P. SENIORIS, JOHANIS P. JUNIORIS, RICARDI / P. SENIORIS, RICARDI P. JUNIORIS ET… Translation: Here lie the bodies of Sir Christopher Plunkett, Knight, at one time vice-deputy of Ireland, and of Joan Cusack his wife, who built (caused to be made) this church. Pray for the soul of Sir Nicholas Plunkett, Knight, who granted many benefits to this church. Pray for the souls of Dame Elizabeth Plunkett, of John Plunkett the elder, of John Plunkett the younger, of Richard Plunkett the elder, of Richard Plunkett the younger, and of….. The missing portion of the Latin inscription which appears in brackets is taken from the inscription as given in Archdall’s edition of Lodge’s “Peerage of Ireland,” vol. VI, p. 174, where, however, the concluding few words are omitted; no mention is made in that Peerage of Dame Elizabeth, and the succeeding names on the slab so that their relationship to Sir Christopher remains unsolved. Of Sir Christopher, Archadall supplies the following information: Sir Christopher, eldest son of John Plunket, in reward of this services in the wars of Ireland, and the expenses he had been at to the great impoverishment of his fortune, had a grant of 20 marcs from King Henry VI, dated 5th November, 1426, before which time he was Sheriff of Meath, and, in 1432, was deputy to Sir Thomas Stanley, Kt., Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In 1401 he married Joan, daughter and sole heir of Sir Lucas Cusack, Kt., Lord of Killeen, Dunsany and Gerardstown in the County of Meath, and in her right became Lord of Killeen. In conjunction with his said wife, who died 4th March, 1441, he founded the church of Killeen, within which church, in the west part of the chancel, they founded a chantry, consisting of four priests, to pray for their souls; and they also founded a college in the reign of King Henry VI. Sir Christopher departed this life in 1445, and was interred in the church of Killeen under a tomb erected for him with this inscription (as given above). He left a numerous issue, viz. seven sons and three daughters. The sons were: 1 John, the eldest, succeeded at Killeen. 2. Sir Christopher, ancestor to Lord Dunsany. 3. Sir Thomas, ancestor to the Plunkets of Rathmore. 4. Robert, ancestor to the Plunkets of Dunsoghly. 5. Rowland, who died without issue. 6. Edward, ancestor to the Plunkets of Balrath. 7. Edmund, in holy order, who died 6 July, 1474.