Graveslab in Ardmulchan

Also in the graveyard of Ardmulchan church (ME025-020----) is the probable 17th century graveslab (dims 1.95m x 1.04m) of Brian O’Hairt inscribed in Latin with Roman letters. A date is not given, but the sun-dial provided (FitzGerald 1910, 137) is perhaps unique. It is described (ibid.) as: The inscription round the edge, in large, deeply cut Roman capitals, is very clear; but that portion of it on the face of the slab was exceedingly hard to decipher, and of the Latin part only a few letters can be traced. The sun-dial like arrangement of Arabic figures is, as far as I know, unique, on a sepulchral slab, and what meaning it was intended to convey is unknown to me. There is no date given of this Brian O’Hart’s death. The inscription on the edge of the slab reads: EGO BERNARDVS O HAIRT / OFFICIALIS CVRIE MIDESIS CREDO QVOD MORTALE / HOC INDVERIT IMORTALI / TATE ET IN CARNE MEA SALVATORE MEV VIDERO. At the centre is: A MAN IS MADE LIKE / VANITEE HIS DAIES PAS / SETH AS A SHADOWE. In a semi-circle around a hole for a gnomon: Here lieth Brian O Hairt. Also the numerals 5-12 and 1-3. The translation of the inscription is: I Brian O’Hairt, Official (i.e. Registrar) of the Consistory Court of Meath, believe that ‘this mortal shall put on immortality’ (from 1st Corinthians XV, 52), and ‘in my flesh I shall see my Saviour’ (or God, in Job, XIX, 26). See the attached image. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 September, 2014