Graveslab (present location) in Gardens (kilkenny City By., St. John's Par.)

Thirteen graveslabs were recovered from the River Nore during the archaeological excavations (01E980) carried out in 2001-2003 as part of the River Nore Drainage Scheme (Doyle and O’Meara 2004, 6-20). These were found associated with the late medieval bridge (KK019-026070-), immediately N of the current John’s Bridge (ibid. 7). It is suggested that the graveslabs were deliberately cleared from a graveyard, possibly belonging to either St Mary’s parish church (KK019-026115-) c. 100m to the W or to St John’s Priory (KK019-026068-) c. 200m to the NE, and used as part of the rubble needed to form a protective apron for the piers of the late medieval bridge (ibid. 16-19). Currently stored in Magdalan tower (KK019-026074-), Maudlin St, Kilkenny. A tapering limestone graveslab (01E0980: 2274) was found beneath the remains of the one of the piers of the late medieval bridge (ibid. 8-9). The slab (L 1.62m; Wth 0.4m; T 0.2m) is broken into six pieces, with the top of the slab missing, though most of the cross-head is visible (ibid. 12-13). It is decorated with an eight-armed cross in raised relief, however, the cross has been deliberately defaced, with only the rough outline remaining (ibid.). The cross-head had fleur-de-lis terminals and the cross terminates in a three-armed floriated cross beneath a barred knop (ibid.). There are two lines of Lombardic inscription, in Latin, along the upper surface of the dexter side (ibid. 12). It reads, ‘HIC JACET EMMA VXOR THOME DE WAWIL ORATE PRO ANIMA EIUS’, which translates as, ‘Here lies Emma wife of Thomas De Wawil Pray for their souls’ (ibid. 12-13). This has been dated to the 14th century (ibid. 13). See attached photograph: KK019-026424-_01 Photograph by Chris Corlett Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 January 2023

Graveslabs recovered from the River Nore, likely medieval in date, represent funerary monuments associated with early Christian or monastic sites in the region. Their presence in the river suggests historical re-deposition, possibly due to flooding or deliberate removal, highlighting the area’s long-standing religious and burial significance.