Wall monument in Callan South

Fixed to the E gable of the S aisle of the nave of St Mary’s parish church (KK026-010012-), Callan. A limestone Renaissance wall monument described by Cockerham (2009, 279) as consisting of, ‘a large central slab [H 0.57m; Wth 1.83m] bearing a long inscription in low relief capital letters, an empty frame [with moulded limestone surround; int. H 0.76m; Wth 1.57m] below (for another inscription?) and a plinth [H 0.15m] above. This supports a heraldic achievement hemmed in by two debased Ionic pilasters and supporting ovolo scrolls which are delicately incised with foliage decoration. On top is a semi-circular open-fan device, itself topped by an obelisk lightly sculpted with a cross pattée/IHS device’. The monument is 2m high above the plinth. On either side of the Latin inscription there is an incised representation of a rose bush in flower (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 304). The inscription has been transcribed by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 303) as, ‘FORTVNATE LAPIS DIVES QVI FV[N]ERE THOMAE OSSA SEPVLCHRALI CONDITA MOLE TEGIS. CALLANIAE FLORE[M] CAECA COMPLECTERIS VRNA; NO[N] TAME[N] HIC VERNO FLOS NOVAT IMERE DECVS MAIORV[M] GEN[VS] HVIC CLARV[M] DEDIT ANGIA NOMEN. HAVD VSQVA[M] CLAVSAE POSTHVMA FAMA DOM[VS]. VIVE POLO CVI VITA SOLO EST . NECE DECIDIT OMNIS POMPA SOLI. SOLI VIVERE DISCE DEO. 1629’ and translated by him as, ‘O fortunate stone, which, enriched by the death of Thomas, do’st cover his bones in the sepulchral mound. Thou holdest the flower of Callan in thy gloomy urn; yet this flower does not renew its beauty by vernal shower. England, the cradle of his race gave him an illustrious name. The fame of a house never yet closed still flourishes. Live for Heaven, the region of life. At death all the pomp of the world fades away. Learn to live for God alone. 1629’. Carrigan (ibid., 304) describes the heraldic shield as having the following armorial bearings, ‘per pale; dexter, 1st and 4th a Talbot passant, 2nd and 3rd five mullets on a cross engrailed, for Comerford; sinister, three swords, two in saltier, pointing downwards, the third in pale pointing upwards, for Shee. There are two crests: first, on an esquire’s helmet, from a coronet a peacock’s head issuant, and over it the words VIRTVS VENVSTA; the second crest is a swan over a helmet, above which are the words VINCIT VERITAS. Underneath the shield is the motto, SO : HOV : HOO : DEN. A deeply cut mantling descends from the helmets on each side, and terminates in large tassels’. Carrigan (ibid.) also mentions that the lower frame of the monument was missing its panel and that, ‘Lying flat on the ground, under this monument, is a slab [KK026-010063-] inscribed OSTIVM MONVMENTI, i.e. the entrance to the vault’. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 November 2019