Graveslab in An Gróbh

One of three medieval / post-medieval memorials in the graveyard to the E of the church (KE043-224005-). This record is for the Rice slab which is dated 1629. The Rice graveslab dated 1629 recorded by Fitzgerald (1911, 344-6) as follows; 'The Rice Slab, 1629. This slab lies almost level with the ground in the eastern portion of the burial-ground. It is in a fractured condition, but has been cemented together, not quite line for line. The lettering is in raised Roman capitals ; the first ten lines are in English, and the remaining eight in Latin. The inscription (full .of errors), taken from Smith's ''History of the County Kerry," is given on p. 401, Vol. I of the Journal, where the date 1629 is given as 1622, and the first half of the Latin portion of the inscription is omitted altogether. At the top of the slab is a coat-of-arms—Rice impaling Trant.' The inscription is in verse, and runs thus'": Stephen Rice, Esquier, lies here, Late Knight of Parliament, A happy lif for four score yeare, Full virtueously he spent. His loyall wif Ellin Trant, Who died five yeares before, Lies here also; Lord Jesus grant Them lif for evermore. The Latin portion of the inscription, according to Mr. J. R. Garstin, is in hexameters and pentameters; the notes he has kindly supplied on it are given further on. This portion of the inscription is evidently in Latin verse, consisting of two hexameters and two pentameters, though not written in four lines. The commencement is very puzzling, only the first word being clear, namely, the Christian name " Stephanus." Next comes a word which presumably is the Latin equivalent for the surname Rice, as found in the English portion, as given above. It must be a three-foot word. Then come letters ac e tro apparently, but not making sense. Could they be mistakes for Antiquo? That, though not scanning well, would make sense with the four words which come next. What follows them is puzzling. No suitable Latin word beginning with Ast (which itself equals "but") is to be found. If one word, it should be of four feet, like " astruvms," an imaginary word. What follows is clear. More light is needed to clear up this inscription.' Translation. 'It is impossible to give the English in full until the Latin is determined, but the sense is somewhat as follows 'Stephen [Rice] the senior of an ancient (?) race. It is fame will be enduring. Help him with your prayers Holy Mother and Jesus. Moreover, friendly reader, add your prayers'. 17th century graveslab described by Bradley (1987, 70) as follows; 'Stephen Rice and Ellen Trant. 1629. About, 14m SE of the SE corner of the church. In very poor condition. Trapezoidal . Decorated heraldic shield showing Rice, and Trant impaled. The inscription is now almost illegible: STEP[HEN] RICE: ESQUIER: LI/ES H[ER]E LATE KNIG[HT] OF / [PA]R[LIAM]ENT A HAPPY LIF/ [FOR FOUR] SCORE [YE]ARE/ [FULL VIRTU]OUSLY [HE] SPENT/HIS LOYAL WID ELLIN/ TRANT, WHO DIED FIV/ YEARES BEFORE LIES HERE/ ALLSO LORD IESUS GR/ANT THEM LIF FOR EVERMORE/ MDCXXII. STE[PH]ANVS ECC 8V9 AC/.TR. DE STEMM[AT]E NATV/ MAXIMVS AST..VIVS/FAMA PERENNSI ERIT/HUIC SVCCVRRE TVIS VO/TIS PIA MA[TER ET] JESU:/ INSVPER ADDE TVAS/ LECTOR AMICE PRECES....AD, SANGV/INEM OBIIT I FEB: 1629 It is difficult to translate the Latin inscription because so many letters are unclear but its general tenor is that Stephen Rice was an upright (?astantivus) ember of his race, and that his fame will. endure. It concludes "Succour him with your prayers O Holy Mother and Jesus. Friendly reader add your prayers. . .died 1 February 1629". Dims : L. 194 W. 104-89 T 8 FitzGerald 1910-12, 344-6. See attached plan and photographs taken from Dunne 2011 Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 8 April 2022