Graveslab in Callan South

Lying prostrate in the centre aisle of the nave of St Mary’s church (KK026-010012-), Callan. The lower portion of a straight-sided limestone slab (L 0.81m; Wth 0.6m; T 0.12m). The decoration consists of a cross with a raised cross-shaft. The cross-base is very faint but appears to be stepped. An inscription in Latin in raised Black Letter script begins on the lower sinister corner and continues around the border (Wth 0.08-0.09m) on the dexter side. The first letter, the ‘H’ of ‘Hic’ is decorated in an elaborate interlaced style. The complete slab was transcribed by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 302) as, ‘Hic jacet Nicholaus Co….generosus q obiit [3 die m… Julius] 1601 et Margaretta Forrstale ux….obiit 25 die mens Julius 1597’ and translated as, ‘Here lie Nicholas Comerford, Esq., who died [3rd day of July] 1601, and Margaret Forrstale, his wife, who died July 25th, 1597’.  Carrigan (ibid.) adds that the slab, ‘is broken into four pieces, of which the top, or largest, lies in the nave beside the gravelled walk; the second is missing; the third marks a grave at the north side of the church; the fourth, containing the “qui obiit 1601” and the “et Margaretta Forr,” cannot now be found, though it was seen and copied by Mr. Shelly about 1874. On the third piece is carved a bugle garnished, part of the coat of arms of the Comerfords of Inchiologhan’. Carrigan appears to be mistaken as the slab appears to have been only broken in two, with the upper portion (KK026-010071-), bearing the inscription, ‘‘obiit 3 die m… Julius 1601 et Margarete Fo…’, being currently located in the chancel. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Early Christian gravestone, 7th–9th century. It is significant as an example of insular Christian art and funerary practice in medieval Ireland.