What is recorded here

Graveslab in Callan South preserves the broken Latin memory of Thomas Comerford, former sovereign of Callan, who died in 1627 and was remembered by his wife Lettice. The limestone corner lies low in the west tower of St Mary’s church, its Black Letter words worn until they barely resist forgetting. What is missing has not disappeared; it has scattered into the tower, the nave and the patience of anyone who still reads what remains.

Lying at ground floor level in the W tower of St Mary’s church (KK026-010012-), Callan. The lower sinister corner of a straight-sided limestone slab (L 0.9m; Wth 0.46m; T 0.16m), with portion of a Latin inscription, 'quondam superior qui obiit postridie….umentum fieri fecit', in raised Black Letter script within a border and continuing beneath the border. Some of the words are very worn and are barely decipherable. The upper portion of the slab (KK026-010057-) lies in the centre of the S aisle of the nave. Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 308) transcribed the inscription from the various broken parts of the slab as, ‘Hic jacet egregious….omas Co….quondam superior qui obiit postridie ….arii 1627 et post….uxor eius Le….umentum fieri fecit’ and translated it as, ‘Here lies the excellent [man] Thomas Co[merford] formerly Sovereign [of the town of Callan], who died the day after…..of January (or February) 1627. And afterwards his wife Lettice….got this monument erected’. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 November 2019

Medieval Christian tomb slab, 13th–14th century. The slab is significant as a rare surviving example of early medieval funerary monuments in the region, with partial Latin inscription indicating ecclesiastical or elite burial practices.

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