What is recorded here

Graveslab in Baile Chláir is a broken tapering slab set in the chancel of the Claregalway friary, preserving the shape of a thirteenth or fourteenth century burial mark. It lies near the crossing tower, narrow at one end and wider at the other, with no name left upon its surface. The absence of writing does not empty it; it redirects attention to the person who died, the hands that cut the stone, and the community that kept the place clean enough for worship.

Bradley and Dunne (1992, 58) noted 'at least five uninscribed cross-slabs of thirteenth/fourteenth century date' at the friary (GA070-035001-) in Claregalway. It is possibly that they are referring to a number of tapering graveslabs: see also GA070-035003-, GA070-035004-, GA070-035005- and GA070-035007-. This example is set in the ground in the SW corner of the chancel and is 0.53m to the E of the crossing tower. It consists of an incomplete tapering bevelled slab (L 0.97m; Wth 0.4m top; 0.36m bottom) broken in two pieces. The following image has been uploaded: GA070-035006-_01.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 17 July 2018

Medieval Christian cross slab, 13th–14th century. Likely associated with a friary, reflecting the spread of monastic Christianity in medieval Ireland.

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