Graveslab in Fethard

Lying in the floor towards the eastern end of the centre aisle of the nave of the medieval parish church of St John the Baptist (TS070-040001-), currently Holy Trinity C of I church. A rectangular limestone slab (L 1.66m; Wth 0.83m) with an english inscription in capitals around the border which continues in horizontal bands down the centre of the slab. The inscription reads: HERE LYETH YE BODY OF THO CLEARE SON OF THOMAS & ESTER CLEARE OF MILESTOWNE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE YE 13TH DEC/BER AND IN YE 11 YEARE OF HIS AGE 1691. HERE LYES EDWARD CLEARE SON WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE YE 21[12?]TH OF DEC/BER IN THE 9 YEARE OF HIS AGE 1691. HERE LYETH THE BODY OF THO CLEARE OF KILBURRY WHO DECEASED THE 9TH OF JANUARY 1705. Brennan (1862-3, 249) gives a slightly erroneous transcription which is repeated by Davis White (1892, 97), however Long (1892-4, vol. 2, 211) and Knowles (1903, 153) give versions that are more accurate. There are no decorative motifs on the slab. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 23 January 2012