Graveslab in Fethard

In the graveyard (TS070-040044-) of the Augustinian abbey (TS070-040004-), standing against the external N wall of the N transept, the second from the E of a row of graveslabs. A slab (L 1.83m; Wth 0.94m; T 0.15m) with a marginal inscription in plain script in latin, with no decorative motif. It was transcribed by Brennan (1862-3, 147) as: HIC JACET BERNARDUS KEARNEY BURGI DE FIDERDIA FILIUS MARITII KEARNEY BURGI IBIDEM QUI BERNARDUS OBIIT XXVII DIE APRILIS ANNO DONI MDCLXXXII. MATIS SUAE XXXVIII CUJUS UXOR KATHERINA KEARNEY ALS DWYER ME FIERI FECIT ANNO DNI 1687. A sketch of the slab provided by Brennan shows the inscription, however it is misleading as the Gothic script typeface implies that the inscription is in Black Letter script and the words are not positioned according to their actual position on the slab. Knowles (1903, 120) provides a translation of the inscription as follows: Here lies Bernard Kearney, Burgess of Fethard, son of Maurice Kearney, also a Burgess. Bernard died the 27th day of April, A.D. 1687, in the 38th year of his age. His wife Catherine Kearney, née Dwyer, erected this monument, A.D. 1687. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 12 January 2012

Medieval Christian graveslab, 13th–14th century; significant as part of the burial complex associated with the Augustinian abbey at Fethard.