Graveslab in Callan South

Lying loose within the chancel of St Mary’s medieval parish church (KK026-010012-). A upper portion of a limestone graveslab (L 0.49m; Wth 0.61m; T 0.14m) decorated in raised relief with a large IHS, with a knot around the middle of the ‘I’ and ‘S’. There is a cross pattée through the bar of the ‘H’. There is an inscription in Latin, in Black Letter script within the border (Wth 0.08m) around the edge of the graveslab. The inscription appears to have started in the lower portion of the slab and continues on the upper dexter side with ‘obiit 3 die m[ensis – possibly abbreviated to mes]’, the corner is broken off, it continues across the top, ‘Julius 1601’, followed by at the start of the upper sinister side, ‘et Margarete Fo…’. The M of the mensis is carved with interlace as are the M and F of Margarete’s first name and surname. The inscription translates as: …….died the 3rd day in the month of July 1601 and Margarete Fo…. . The lower portion of the slab (KK029-010053-) lies prostrate in the nave. 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’.  Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Christian graveslab; medieval period. Significantly marked with the IHS monogram, indicating religious symbolism associated with early Christian or medieval ecclesiastical practice in the region.