Tomb — chest tomb in Callan South

Against the E gable of the S aisle of the nave of St Mary’s parish church (KK026-010012-), Callan.  A limestone chest tomb the mensa of which is missing. The front panel (L 1.94m; H 0.68m; T 0.16m), which is divided into three panels depicting architectural designs, is broken almost vertically between the dexter and central panel. Described by O’Donovan (2012, 184), the ‘central design represents a vault type common in the Butler lands in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Indeed, the vault under the tower at Kilkenny Dominican Friary [KK019-026021-] is virtually identical in design’. The sinister panel is a window design which appears at St. Mary’s Church [in the N gable of the N aisle], it is rather unusual, combining reticulation with supermullions of the Perpendicular style (ibid.). The dexter panel is a flamboyant design related in style to the E window at St Mary’s medieval parish church (TS083-010001-), Clonmel, the Dominican Friary (TS061-025007-), Cashel and the E window at the Augustinian foundation (KK026-010016-) at Callan (ibid.). O’Donovan (ibid.) concludes that the, ‘tomb panels are clearly various designs in use in the fifteenth century by a school of masons working for the Butlers and the lords of bordering territories’. The N side panel (Wth 0.56m; min. H 0.6m; T 0.15m) is decorated with a shield with armorial bearings in raised relief. The shield is straight sided but the shape of the base is unclear as it is partially buried in the ground and it is slightly spalled. It is not possible to make out the decoration on the shield which is severely worn. The shield is surmounted by two helmets of the close helm variety, with wreaths and mantling. A knotted cord ending in a tassel hangs from the mantling on either side. The sinister crest is a large bird, perhaps a swan. The dexter crest is the long neck and head of a bird surmounted by crest feathers, presumably a peacock.  The S panel (Wth 0.61m; min. H 0.62m; Wth 0.15) is partially buried in the ground. It is decorated with an interlaced IHS formed by capitals in Black Letter script, with interlace sprouting from the central I. The second vertical of the H terminates with a knot. The S is interlaced between the I and the H. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly