Graveslab in Callan South

Lying flush with the floor slabs in the centre towards the E end of the chancel of St Mary’s church (KK026-010012-), Callan. The upper portion of a somewhat worn limestone slab (L 0.94m; Wth 0.83m). The upper border has been cut across horizontally, leaving only the lower portion of its inscription. It is decorated with an unusual cross-head in the form of a curvaceous shield, without its base, with five simplified fleur-de-lys projecting from the angles of the shield. The penannular space between the fleur-de-lys is decorated with a trefoil or quatrefoil in shallow relief. A vertical cross-arm runs through the centre of the shield, tapering towards the base where it terminates at a circular knop. A short length of cross-shaft continues below the knop before the grave-slab terminates where it has been cut across horizontally. The incised inscription in Latin, in Black Letter script has been transcribed by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 299) as, ‘Hic jacet Johannes Nongle….sub marmore duro….’ and translated by him as, ‘Here, under the unfeeling marble, lies John Nongle….’. According to Carrigan (ibid.), the slab was in the same condition as it is currently, ‘Part of the edge has been chiselled off to fit into its present postion in the floor; whence it happens that only the lower haves of the letters in the first line above remains’. The tops of the letters on the dexter side are also missing. The inscription continued onto the surface of the slab with ‘….ella’ visible inscribed vertically within the dexter border. To the sinister side of the knop, in Black Letter, is incised ‘IHS’. Stylistically this graveslab dates to the mid to late 16th century (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 299; Cockerham and Harris 2001, 181). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 July 2019