Graveslab in Killeen

This slab (dims 2.06m x 0.97m; T 12cm) with a crest and an English inscription in raised roman lettering and also gothic is against the S wall of the chancel. It is dedicated to Robert Cusack and Margaret Plunkett, and dated 1620. (FitzGerald 1911, 412-14, No. X; Moore 1970, 28, No. 8) It is described by FitzGerald as: This slab…. is in a very good state of preservation. In the upper portion of it is a shield bearing the Cusack coat-of-arms impaling those of Plunkett, viz: For Cusack: “ Per pale or and sable, a fesse counter-changed.” For Plunkett: “sable, a bend argent; in the sinister chief a tower triple-towered of the second.” Over the respective arms are the initials R.C. (Robert Cusack) and M. P. (Margaret Plunkett). The inscription runs round the edge of the stone and is peculiar, as it starts in raised Roman capitals along one end and one side, and then continues in small “black letter,” also in relief, thus: HERE LIETH THE BODY / OF ROBART, CVSACK, OF, GERARDSTON, ESQUIER AND TOWEY / CUSACKE IN CONNAGHTE AND / MARGARET PLUNKET HIS WIF, AND HIS FORMER WIFE MARGARET / PORTER, AND THE BODY OF HIS / SONE AND HEIAR JAMES CUSACKE, ANNO DOMINI 1620. The above-mentioned Robert Cusack was a son of Patrick Cusack of Gerardstown, County Meath, by his wife Frances, daughter of Bartholomew Dillon of Riverstown, near Tara. Robert was twice married: first, to Margaret, daughter of ? Simon Porter of Kingstown, County Meath, by whom he had a son James, named on the slab; and secondly, to Margaret, daughter of ? Oliver Plunkett of Kilsaran, Baron of Louth, and had issue (see Burke’s “Landed Gentry”). Robert Cusack died on the 28th of April, 1632, so that the slab was erected during his lifetime; and the date 1620 was probably the date of his son’s death. Date of upload: 18 March, 2015