Graveslab in Coad

The southern one of two graveslabs situated at the E end of a church (CL017-066001-). This flat graveslab is now illegible but Macnamara (1896, 230) recorded the following inscription: ‘Here lyes the bodies of Mary and Slany Ny Brien, daughters to Connor O Brien and Mary Brien, alias Mahon of Lemineagh Ann. Domini 1651.’ However, he also noted that the date was difficult to read and might have been 1681 (ibid.). These were the daughters of Conor O’Brien of Lemineah and Mary MacMahon who was known as Máire Rua (Macnamara 1896, 230; 1901, 360; Comber 1997, 15). Macnamara (1896, 230) also mentioned a rumour that the sisters’ remains were ‘transferred to Kilnasoola [Kilnasoolagh Church near Newmarket-on-Fergus: CL051-019001-] when the new tomb was made in that church.’ Later, however, he observed ‘some earth mixed with decayed bones’ under this graveslab, leading him to conclude that the remains had not been moved (Macnamara 1901, 360, footnote 1). A second 17th-century graveslab (CL017-066006-) lies immediately to the N. The location of these two graveslabs on the site of the altar suggests that the church was no longer in regular use by the middle of the 17th century.   Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott   Date of upload: 14-10-2025