Graveslab in Ballynaclogh

Ballynaclogh nave and chancel church (TN027-003002-) stands in the E quadrant of a rectangular-shaped graveyard (TN027-003006-), immediately SE of a 19th century Protestant church. Only the top half of a possible 13th/14th century recumbent graveslab (dims. L 0.73m x Wth 0.43m x T 0.16m) with pointed top is now visible lying against the internal face of the E gable of the medieval parish church ruins. The broken slab is decorated with a double line quatrefoil cross surmounting a twin line incised shaft with circular knop just below the cross head. The pointed shape of this graveslab is similar to the late thirteenth/early fourteenth-century graveslab (TN042-052004) in Twomileborris graveyard (TN042-052006-).The cross-head formed by four incised rings is an unusual motif and in England is dated to the late 12th-13th century where it is seen as an early type of cross-slab in the development of this type of cross which is succeeded by crosses formed with broken rings (Ryder 1991, 52). A similar cross formed with four broken rings can be seen on a head slab (WX029-013035-) at St. Mary's Church (WX029-013002-), New Ross, Co. Wexford which has been dated to the late 13th/early 14th century (Hunt 1974, Vol. 2, Plate 97; Vol. 1, 239, No. 269). This graveslab may be related to the Group 3 type floriated cross-slab identified by Maher (1997, 16-19) and best exemplified by cross-slabs no. 2 and 3 (TS070-040091/082-) at Fethard Holy Trinity Church (TS070-040001), Co. Tipperary (ibid., Fig. 31, 86). It is possible that the medieval cross slab grave cover at Ballynaclogh dates from the 13th rather than the 14th century. To see a 3D model of this graveslab, visit; https://skfb.ly/oxBy6 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 31 August 2022