What is recorded here

Graveslab in Coad marks the burial place of Mary and Slany O'Brien, daughters of Conor O'Brien of Lemineah, beneath a flat stone now worn smooth by time. They died young in the mid-seventeenth century, perhaps in 1651 or 1681, and their names faded before the church itself disappeared from regular use. A rumour claimed their bones moved to Kilnasoola, yet earth and decayed fragments remained underneath, proving the sisters stayed where they first fell.

The southern one of two graveslabs situated at the E end of a church (CL017-066001-). This flat graveslab is now illegible but Macnamara (1896, 230) recorded the following inscription: ‘Here lyes the bodies of Mary and Slany Ny Brien, daughters to Connor O Brien and Mary Brien, alias Mahon of Lemineagh Ann. Domini 1651.’ However, he also noted that the date was difficult to read and might have been 1681 (ibid.). These were the daughters of Conor O’Brien of Lemineah and Mary MacMahon who was known as Máire Rua (Macnamara 1896, 230; 1901, 360; Comber 1997, 15). Macnamara (1896, 230) also mentioned a rumour that the sisters’ remains were ‘transferred to Kilnasoola [Kilnasoolagh Church near Newmarket-on-Fergus: CL051-019001-] when the new tomb was made in that church.’ Later, however, he observed ‘some earth mixed with decayed bones’ under this graveslab, leading him to conclude that the remains had not been moved (Macnamara 1901, 360, footnote 1). A second 17th-century graveslab (CL017-066006-) lies immediately to the N. The location of these two graveslabs on the site of the altar suggests that the church was no longer in regular use by the middle of the 17th century. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 14-10-2025

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