What is recorded here

Graveslab in Athenry is a tapering slab in the transept of the Dominican church, with two arcade pillars resting on it and a broken incised cross marked across its face. It may date to the late 13th or early 14th century, when Dominican rites and local memory were being carved into stone rather than written in distant ledgers. The slab now serves as a foundation for a later monument, burying its own shape beneath a newer display. What was once a marker for death has become a hidden support for display, carrying the weight of the church above the name it no longer shows.

This tapering graveslab is at the base of the W end of the repositioned wall monument (GA084-001073-) in the transept of the Dominican church (GA094-001014-). Two of the arcade pillars are resting on it. The slab (L 1.8m; Wth at top 0.46m; base Wth 0.26m) is broken in two pieces and its outer edge, head and base are also damaged. It is decorated with an incised cross. Four circles make up the cross-head and fleur de lis terminals extend off it on each side and at the top. A long stem extending to the base ends in another broken fleur de lis terminal. It most likely dates to the late 13th/early 14th century (McKeon 2009, 46, 50, Fig. 15: Slab E). The following images have been uploaded: GA084-001076-_01.jpg - graveslab at base of wall monument (GA084-001073-) GA084-001076-_02.jpg - detail of cross head GA084-001076-_03.jpg - detail of stem of cross GA084-001076-_04.jpg - detail of broken fleur de lis terminal at base Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 12 November 2018

Medieval Christian tomb slab, 13th–14th century. It is significant as part of the repositioned wall monument within the Dominican church, reflecting funerary practices and architectural reuse in the medieval period.

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