Architectural fragment in Cregaclare Demesne

Built into a roughly ENE-WSW running garden boundary wall, to the rear of a house, this architectural fragment (Wth 0.78m; H 0.35m; D 0.2m) consists of a large roughly rectangular block of worked stone. The top of the stone is roughly dressed, while its face is very finely dressed and has a chamfered flat-headed opening (max. Wth 0.36m, narrowing to 0.27m) in its lower half. When viewed straight on, this looks like the arch-stone of a window. However, on the right-hand side of the stone, the partial figure of a knight (H 0.2m), carved in relief, is visible. Only the head, arms and torso are depicted. The figure is wearing a flat headdress, the arms are flexed and the hands appear to be holding something. The left side of the face is slightly damaged. The position of the figure on the side of the stone indicates that it was intended to be seen. It is possible that the stone may have been an arch-stone over a recess or alcove, or it may have been part of a piscina. The figure is similar in posture to the knight holding an axe on the highly decorated 15th-century tomb (RO039-055004-) of Felim O'Conor in Roscommon friary (RO039-055001-). The original location of the fragment is unknown. The following images have been uploaded: GA114-184----_01 Gen view from N.JPG GA114-184----_02 View from N.JPG GA114-184----_03 Gen view of 'knight'.JPG GA114-184----_04 Detail of 'knight'.JPG Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 30 November 2022