Wall monument in Killeen

This is the wall memorial of Plunkett-Dillon, dated 1681, blocking the E window in the S wall of the chancel. This consists of two crests over two slate inscriptions within a frame (dims (1. 7m x. 1.7m). There is a skull and cross-bones above the crests but beneath the pediment. The inscription is in copper-plate cursive script. (Moore 1970, 25-6, No. 4) It is described by FitzGerald ((1911, 407-09) as: This consists of a mural monument placed in the window (built up to receive it) between the sedilia and the east wall. The monument is in two divisions, each of which contains a coat-of-arms and inscription below it. The latter is getting into bad condition owing to the flaking nature of the slab. Taking the left-hand division first, the inscriptions run thus: Crest. Coat-of-arms. Motto: Festina lente (i.e.” Hasten forward with caution,” the Plunkett motto). Sir Nicholas Plunkett Knight: 3rd son to / Christopher lord Baron of Killeen / & Jane Dillon his Lady, daughter / to James Dillon Lord Baron of Kill / keney (? lane) west afterwards Earl of / Roscoman died ye 27th day of / December 1680 / and of his / age 79th. On the right-hand slab the inscription runs: Crest. Coat-of-arms. Motto: Lux en tout (now Loyal en tout, the Browne motto). This Monument was Erected / for him by Sir Valentine Browne / of Ross in the County of Kierry / Bart. & Dame Jane his wife / sole daughter & heire of ye said / Sir Nicholas Plunkett & was / finished in ye Month of / October 1681. The following remarks on the above-named Sir Nicholas are copied from Archdall’s “Lodge’s Peerage of Ireland,” vol. VI P 180: Sir Nicholas (3rd son of Christopher, Lord Killeen), barrister-at-law, a man of great repute for prudence and eminence in his profession. In the Parliament of 1634 he was returned member for the County Meath, at the age of 22 years; and in the next year he was also returned for the said county, with Sir Richard Barnewall. He was appointed one of the Committee sent by the House of Commons into England, from whence he returned in August, 1641, with several gracious concessions from the King; and after the breaking out of the Rebellion, was chosen in the latter end of October, 1642, Chairman of the General Assembly at Kilkenny, and at the conclusion of the war was named one of the supreme Council. He married, first, a daughter and co-heir to William Turner, Alderman of Dublin, by whom he had two daughters: Jane and Mary, the younger of whom dying young, Jane became heir, and was married to Sir Valentine Brown of Ross (Killarney), County of Kerry, Baronet. He married, secondly, Mary, daughter of Christopher Plunket of the Grange; and thirdly, Catherine, daughter of James Aylmer of Carrickbrien, County Clare, Esqr. (She remarried with John Butler), but had no issue. He was interred at Killeen; and on the right hand of the chancel is a large tomb, and over it in the wall the arms of Plunket, bearing those of Turner in a surcoat, and impaling those of Aylmer in one escutcheon, and in another those of Brown, bearing those of Plunket and Turner in a surcoat, and under them this inscription (as given above). Date of upload: 18 March, 2015