What is recorded here

The first memorial stone in Ballylarkin Lower is a plain limestone plaque set into the church wall, preserving the pride of the Shortalls in 1551 when they expanded their land through industry. It travelled from the ruined Manor House to Clomanty Castle and finally into Ballylarkin church in 1932, where it was fixed beneath a window for protection. The stone is not grand, but it is persistent, carrying the names of the family and the shape of a local world that might otherwise have been forgotten.

Described in the Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead (Anon. 1901, 98-9), as a portion of a memorial stone, dated 1551, from the Shortall castle at Ballylarkin (KK013-017001-), which is adjacent to a 17th-century house (KK013-017002-). The inscription (with suggested corrections) reads: '[ACQUI]SICIONIS DE BALYW ET NOGLAISLAND ET PRECCASISTON, AC MULTA ALIA BONA EX SUA INDUSTRIA FECERUNT. ANNO DOMINI MCCCCCLI', meaning that the Shortalls, whom the inscription commemorates enlarged their property by the addition of several townlands and 'effected by their industry many other improvements therein' (Anon. 1901, 98-9). A rectangular limestone plaque (KK013-018005-) with an inscription in raised Gothic script has been inserted into masonry on the sill of the E window embrasure of Ballylarkin church (KK013-018001-). According to OPW correspondence (no date), this stone was over the doorway of the ruined 'Mannor House' (the 17th-century house), across the road from the church and that when it fell down it was brought to 'Clomanty Castle', before being brought to Ballylarkin church in 1932 and 'set in on the slope of the window of the church for protection'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 29 July 2019

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.