What is recorded here

Graveslab in Knockainy West is a cracked 17th-century limestone slab lying east of St. John’s Church, marked by an eight-armed fleur-de-lis cross rising from a chequerboard base. It has no inscription, yet its sharp carving and broken edge suggest it once belonged to someone important enough to be remembered without a name. The absence of words does not empty it; it hands the story back to the living, who must supply the love, loss or pride that made the cross.

The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 182) recorded the following about a 17th century cross-slab in Knockainy graveyard (LI032-141005-); "17th century cross slab. This rectangular limestone slab, which is cracked, is on the ground to the east of the church and tower. It has an eight armed fleur-de-lis cross on steps with a chequer-board pattern. There is no inscription. Dims: L. 222cm W. 93cm T. 18cm (min). Described by Rev. Seymour as following; 'In the churchyard is an uninscribed slab, with a late eight-point cross running down the centre, the arms terminating in a Fleur-de-lys' (Seymour 1907-9, 398). Late 16th/ early 17th century recumbent floriated graveslab located 9m E of the bell-tower of St. John's Church (LI032-141004-) in Knockainy graveyard (LI032-141005-) and 6.4m N of 17th century chest tomb/altar (LI032-141013-). Rectangular slab decorated with an eight-armed ringed cross with central roundel and fleur-de-lis terminals carved in false relief rising from a stepped base decorated with a chequerboard pattern. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 April 2019

17th-century Christian cross slab, associated with early modern funerary practices; significant as a rare surviving example of post-medieval gravemarker in the region.

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