What is recorded here

Graveslab in Athenry is a 1.82m stone tomb for Ion Burke, his wife Kathren, and their ancestors, dated 1627. It stands in the chancel of the Dominican church, close to Lady Matilda de Bermingham’s tomb, bearing a floriated cross, IHS initials, three animals, and an eight-shaped curve. The slab has been moved since Macalister recorded it, yet its legend still identifies the buried Burke line.

This graveslab is in the chancel of the Dominican church (GA084-001014-) and is 0.83m to the S of the N wall and 0.87m N of Lady Matilda de Bermingham’s tomb. It has been moved since recorded by Macalister (1913, Pl. I). The rectangular slab (L 1.82m; Wth across the top 0.87m; Wth across base 0.8m; T 0.21m), with a small shouldered projection (Wth 0.48m; H 0.15m) at the top, tapers gently towards its base. The sides are bevelled. The surface is elaborately decorated and Macalister (ibid., 210, II, Pl. IX, No. 12) described it as ‘a floriated cross-head, with a plain stem, ending below in a handsome interlacing pattern.’ The cross is flanked with the initials IHS and a lozenge-shaped ornament on the dexter side and by three animals and a peculiar ornament of curves enclosing the figure eight on the sinister side. The projection bears an inscription that reads: ‘ION BVRKE 1627’ and round the margin is the legend: ‘THIS IS THE TOMB OF ION BVRKE AND OF HIS ANCESTORS AND KATHREN BVRKE HIS WIFE OF 12 OF 10BER 1627’ (ibid.). (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 35) The following images have been uploaded: GA084-001046-_01.jpg GA084-001046-_02.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 12 November 2018

Medieval Christian graveslab, 14th–15th century; associated with the Dominican church in Athenry and possibly linked to the de Bermingham family, indicating the presence of a significant ecclesiastical and noble burial tradition in the area.

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