Wall monument in Athenry

This wall monument (Wth 2.41m; D 0.53m) is the middle example of three tomb niches (see also GA084-001070- and GA084-001072-) that are visible in the S wall of the nave of the Dominican church (GA084-001014-). The lower part was composed of three trefoil-headed arches that were probably supported on columns similar to those visible in the example to its S. The three moulded quatrefoil openings inserted in the wall above it encroach on the fourth of the series of lancet windows that light the nave. The mouldings on the sedilia in the N wall of the chancel are so similar in style to it that it lead Macalister (1913, 209) to believe that the latter was another tomb niche but unlike tomb niches the sedilia does not extend to the ground level but sits 0.5m above it (McKeon 2009, 33). The three niches display elements of Romanesque and Transitional architecture, including foliage, nail-head, chevron and cable designs, which suggest that they date to the initial construction phase of the church c. 1241 (ibid., 38). (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 32) The following image was uploaded: GA084-001071-_01.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 12 November 2018