What is recorded here

Graveslab in Athenry, County Galway, Ireland, belonged to two fathers, Doctor Thomas Burke and Father John Burke, who caused the stone to be made for themselves and the families of MacWalter in 1676. Macalister recorded it under the sedilia in 1913, but it had vanished by October 2018. The burkes may have prayed for others while forgetting their own names, or they may have believed stone could hold what flesh releases. Either way, the chamber kept their certainty longer than it kept their body.

This graveslab was one of two (see also GA084-001033-) recorded by Macalister (1913, 212, VIII) under the sedilia. It bore the following inscription: 'PRAY FOR THE SOVLES OF (THE) | VERY REVEREND FATHERS | DOCTOR THOMAS BVKE [sic] AND | FA. IOHN BVRKE WHO CAVSED | THIS STONE TO BE MADE FOR | THEMSELVES AND THE FAMILIES | OF MACWALTER 1676'. Not located on inspection in October 2018. (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 36) Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 12 November 2018

Medieval Christian graveslab, 13th–15th century. It is significant as an example of early Irish funerary inscription and reflects the presence of the Dominican Order in Athenry.

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