What is recorded here

Graveslab in Callan South is a broken limestone slab lying in the nave of St Mary’s church, bearing the name Richard Merry and the date 27 December 1584. Its lower part was once set as a threshold in the north doorway, so footsteps may have crossed the chest of a notary before the slab was laid flat. The faint IHS and Latin inscription still mark the place where Merry exchanged life for death.

Lying prostrate in the centre of the nave of St Mary’s church (KK026-010012-), Callan. A limestone slab (total L 2.35m; Wth 0.99m; min. T 0.1m) broken horizontally 0.84m above the base. Above this break the lower sinister angle of the slab (L 0.53m; Wth 0.71m) is also broken. The decoration, which is quite faint, consists of a large IHS with a cross pattée through the bar of the ‘H’. It has an inscription in Latin, in Black Letter script within the border, beginning in the upper dexter corner and continuing along the top and sides. The inscription was transcribed by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 303) as, ‘Hic jacet insignis vir Ricardus Merry q……..notarius qui feliciter vitam morti mutabit, 27 die me[n]sis Decembris A.D. 1584’ and translated as, ‘Here lies the distinquished man Richard Merry formerly ……..notary, who happily exchanged life for death Dec. 27th, 1584’. The edge of the graveslab is chamfered (Wth 0.04m). The lower portion of the graveslab has been used as a threshold in the N doorway of the nave (ibid.). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 13 November 2019

Graveslab in Callan South is a medieval Christian funerary monument, likely 14th to 16th century in date. Its significance lies in its association with early church practices and the potential identification of a local notable or cleric interred within the nave of St Mary’s church.

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