Tomb — effigial in Gowran

Centrally placed towards the E end within a 19th-century C of I church which was built on the former chancel of the 13th-century church of St Mary’s (KK020-060006-) in Gowran. An effigial limestone tomb (L 2.16m; Wth 1.06m; H 1.2m) with a Butler knight carved in high relief. Rae (1970, 10-11) suggests that this tomb may be a cenotaph to James MacEdmond MacRichard Butler (d. 1487) who was married to Sabhdh MacMurrough Kavanagh, though he is actually buried at the Augustinian friary in Callan. This suggestion is based on the presence of the lion rampant on the Butler shield which he speculates may be associated with the MacMurroughs. However, Rae actually prefers James’ brother Walter (d. 1506) as the subject of the tomb, postulating that the lion rampant could be related to Walter’s mother, Giles O’Carroll (though this also applies for James) or be a derivation from the arms of the family of Walter’s wife, the O’Mores of Laois (ibid.). Piers Butler and his wife Margaret FitzGerald (d. 1542) may have been responsible for commissioning this and several other early 16th-century Butler tombs, commemorating past members of the family, in an effort to bolster the prestige of the MacRichard Butlers in their contested claim to the Earldom of Ormond (Moss 2014, 502). Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 169) describes the armour in detail. According to Hunt (ibid.), ‘the front part of the head and face were restored on this figure, but the present replacement does not belong to this monument’. There is a bird carved on the cushion on either side of the head. The knight’s feet rest on an animal that appears to be a lion as it has a distinctive mane. The upper sinister corner of the mensa is broken off and the legs of the knight are largely missing. The mensa is broken along the dexter side with a crack extending across the lower portion of the slab, through the sword and legs of the knight. The N side panel (L 2.16m; H 0.98m; T 0.14m) consists of two slabs carved with ogee-headed niches with foliate finials. The leftmost slab has four niches, containing from left to right St Philip, though not clear he is presumably holding loaves in his left hand and holding his robe with his right hand; St Bartholomew with a flesher’s knife in his right hand and a book in his left; St Matthew with a sword upright in his right hand and a book in his left hand and St James Minor carrying a club in his left hand and holding his robe with his right hand. This slab is cracked vertically down the middle. In the W end the shorter slab has two niches containing St Simon with a sparth in his right hand and a book in his left and St Thaddeus with a pole-arm in his right hand and a book in his left. This slab is cracked at an angle running across the W ogee and beneath St Thaddeus’ head. All the apostles are wearing full-length robes, the lower portion of which, above the feet, is broken off on all but the westernmost figure. The E end panel (Wth 1.05m; H 0.98m; T 0.13m) at the foot of the tomb consists of a single slab with the design of three ogee-headed niches with foliate finials continuing onto the end of the two side panels. The figures within the niches from left to right are, Christ as Judge crowned and showing his wounds, an archbishop blessing with his right hand and with a cross-staff in his left hand and a female saint with a veil and wimple, holding a book in her left hand and holding her robe with the right. The S side panel (L 2.16m; H 0.98m; T 0.15m) consists of a single slab decorated with six ogee-headed niches with foliate finials. The figures from left to right are, St Peter with his keys in his left hand and a book in his right; St Paul with his sword upright in his right hand and a book in his left; St Andrew with a saltire cross in this left hand and a book in his right; St James Major with a scallop shell in his pilgrim’s hat, a purse hanging from a belt around his waist and a book in his left hand, his right arm appears to be raised in greeting; St John with a palm-frond in his left hand and a book in his right and St Thomas holding a spear in his right hand and a book in is left. The panel is cracked vertically through the left side of the figure of St Paul. The W end panel (Wth 1.06m; H 0.98m; T 0.1m) at the head of the tomb consists of a single slab with the design of two Butler coats of arms continuing onto the end of the two side panels. Both display a chief indented, though the right shield is impaled with a lion rampant turned to sinister. See attached photographs: KK020-060043-_01 Effigial tomb from above from E end KK020-060043-_02 S side panel KK020-060043-_03 E panel at foot of tomb KK020-060043-_04 N side panel KK020-060043-_05 W panel at head of tomb KK020-060043-_06 Upper portion of effigial tomb from above from N side Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 6 August 2019