Cross-slab in Bunacum,castlequarter (aghameadle Par.)

Situated in the centre of the village with an Augustinian priory (TN022-070002-) to the S. The poorly preserved remains of the N wall of a possible rectangular church (TN022-070001-) building composed of roughly coursed limestone rubble with a possible priest's chamber at the W end. It may have been a late medieval parish church associated with the village of Toomevara. It is listed in the ecclesiastical taxation of the Diocese of Killaloe in 1302 (CDI, vol. 5, 302). A cross-inscribed slab, now lost, was recovered from the vicinity of the abbey (Gleeson 1951-2, 133). Described by Gleeson as 'it was on this site (TN022-070001-) near the E door that the Cross Slab was found by Mr. Hunt on a loose heap of stones. It was later seen, photographed, and a rubbing taken by Mr. S. Stewart, Right Rev. Monsignor Moloney and the author. When the Society visited the site in May it had vanished. Enquiries reveal that some of the loose stones had been put into a dump in the interval and others built into a wall by County Council workers. Efforst have so far failed to tyrace the Cross Slab' (Gleeson 1951-2, 134). Killanin and Duignan mention that until recently there was a ninth/tenth-century gravestone or cross-slab near the E doorway of the church and that this church was possibly built on the site of St Donán's monastery (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 443). This cross-slab was photographed by the National Monuments Service in 1952 but was subsequently lost and has not been discovered since. It is possible that Killanin and Duignan recorded the same cross-slab that was photographed in 1952. The cross-slab consists of a possible incised Chi-Rho cross with bifurcating terminals on the lateral arms contained within an incised circle. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 22 September 2008