The Gods of the Neale — Nealepark

Located on the margins of deciduous woodland, in the demesne land of the now ruined Neale House, former home of the Browne family. This whimsical 18th-century folly, named ‘The Gods of the Neale’ on the 1929 OS 6-inch map, is a National Monument (no. 359) in state ownership. It consists of a rectangular mortared limestone structure (1.6m E−W; 2.75m E-W), built in tiers and topped with a small triangular cap, giving the whole a stepped, pyramidal shape. The W side of the monument backs onto a scarp (H 2m), which rises to a flat pasture field. A series of stone steps wrap around the S, W and N sides, providing easy descent from the higher ground to the tall, vertical E façade (H 4m) of the structure. The monument incorporates four medieval carved stones (MA0121-004002-) of unknown the provenance. A square stone, built into the top of the folly, may be the base of a cross. It has a Latin inscription in a Gothic-style script on three sides, which translates as an injunction to pray for the soul of a named husband and his wife, and bears the date 1526 (Carrigan et al. 1909, 639-45). The inscription is difficult to decipher, and Carrigan et al. (ibid.) offer several possible readings of the personal names, which may be David O’Minacain or O’Muairin and his wife, Norine. Built into the upper portion of the E façade are three stone slabs bearing medieval-style carvings in relief. The two uppermost slabs are set side by side; at left is the carving (H 0.55m; Wth 0.37m) of a four-legged animal, possibly a horse or a unicorn; at right is a slab (H0.55m; Wth 0.3m) bearing the figure of an angel, graced with long wings, holding a book and standing on a decorative band of circles, possibly representing clouds. Directly beneath, the third slab (H 0.3m; Wth 0.57m) is carved with the image of a four-legged beast, which appears to be a lion, with the mane, tail, claws and teeth outlined in considerable detail. A large flat slab, its entire surface engraved with an inscription in English, is inset into the lower two third of the façade. The inscription consists of a long, convoluted, fanciful account of legendary local rulers in the time of the druids, and refers to the carved slabs above as images of the ‘ancient Gods of the Neale’. At the base of the inscription is engraved the date 1753. The full inscription can be read in the NIAH record of the monument (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/31312104/neale-house-nealepark-neale-county-mayo). The monument was most likely erected by John Browne MP (d. 1762), de jure fifth Baronet Browne of The Neale. Attached images: MA121-004001-_01 Viewed from W MA121-004001-_02 Façade at E MA121-004001-_03 Façade viewed from NE MA121-004001-_04 Carvings incorporated into facade Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 23 October 2020