Tomb — effigial in Garristown

Three fragments of a possible 15th century effigial slab (Slab A, C and D) that was discovered in the graveyard (DU003-011003-) of Garristown church (DU003-011001-) in 1990 by Mary McMahon while carrying out a survey on behalf of the Dublin Archaeological Society of medieval churches in North Dublin (McMahon 1991, 26). Mary and Henry Wheeler discovered fragments of effigy tombs that had been reused as grave-markers. This fragment was described by Mary McMahon as; 'Slab A measures 1.18m long by 1m wide and consists of the lower half (below the waist) of a female figure. Her heavy woollen skirt falls in regular parallel folds to her feet. The front is raised to reveal a smock underneath. Her feet rest on a tasseled cushion. The skirt measures 0.39m wide at the top and 0.7m at the bottom. There is a raised band, c. 100 mm wide, along the right margin of the slab, but there is no sign of an inscription on it. The lower left corner of the slab is broken away' (ibid.). It portrays a heavy woolen skirt which is raised to reveal a smock underneath. Her feet rest on a tasseled cushion. Two smaller fragments were also discovered and a side slab of the tomb chest. This slab has been dated to the 15th century and represents a Pale school of figure sculpture (McMahon 1991, 26). The second fragment was described by Mary McMahon as Slab D which she described as; 'This is the top left corner of an effigy slab, probably slab A. It measures approximately 0.6m long by 0.3m wide. There is a raised band, approximately 100mm wide, around the edge of the slab. There is an angel, similar to the angel above the shield in slab B, beside a tasseled cushion. Slab C - corner fragment from effigy slab This small fragment has a raised band along the edge, similar to the effigy slab (slab A) and most likely formed part of that slab'. The three fragments are now mounted on the wall inside Garristown Library. There is a great similarity in the design of the skirt and underskirt on the Garristown effigy slab (slab A) to the effigy tomb of Maud Plunket at Malahide [DU012-031005-] of c. 1440, Margaret Jenico and Roland FitzEustace in St Audoen's [DU018-318----], 1482, and Anne Plunket and Christopher St Lawrence, in Howth [DU015-029003-] of c. 1462. Tasseled head-cushions are also present at St Audoen's, Howth and Malahide, although at the latter the lady's head rests on two cushions. The designs on the side panels of the Malahide tomb chest are also very similar to the Garristown side panel (slab B). These comparisons help to place the Garristown slabs in the 15th-century Pale School of figure sculpture'. Cross reference with DU003-014---- To see a 3D model of Slab D visit https://skfb.ly/oDU6P To see a 3D model of the Effigial Slab visit https://skfb.ly/oDUqD McMahon, M. 1991 Garristown Church, Garristown. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1990: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, No. 35, 26. Bray. Wordwell. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 February 2023