Tomb — effigial in Kilcoolyabbey

In the southern recess in the W wall of the S transept of Kilcooly Abbey (TS043-034001-) there is a limestone altar tomb. It consists of two flat slabs (dexter slab L 1.56m; Wth 0.59m; sinister slab L 1.27m; Wth 0.57m; T 0.08m) which together form the mensa or table top and the dexter portion  of the front slab (L 0.9m; H 0.69m; T 0.05m). The lower portion of the sinister front slab has broken off and of this a fragment (L 0.38m; Wth 0.27m) of the sinister corner survives and is currently incorporated in the plinth of the Pierce fitz Oge Butler altar tomb (TS043-034012-). This fragment bears the inscription: TERO and the latter part of the date: '08'. The remaining portion of the sinister front slab is missing. The dexter half of the front slab is very worn and the decorative scheme is difficult to discern (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/kilcooley-abbey-cantwell-tomb-840744b84235412cad20b2a63b13aef4). There is a horizontal frieze across the top of the panel which is very similar in style to the Neales tomb (KK026-010060-) in Callan, dated 1624 and the chest tomb (TS061-025064-) in St Dominic’s Abbey, Cashel, both of which are also attributed to the O’Kerin school of monumental sculpture. A plain horizontal band separates the frieze from the lower portion of the slab. The dexter end is decorated with a large plain cross with the faint outline of a figure on either side, possibly Mary and John, though the sinister figure may be a soldier holding either a spear or a sponge on a pole. A fluted column with a moulded base separates the dexter and sinister decorative schemes. The sinister scheme is almost indecipherable, though there seems to be a flowing garment in the centre, which is either a representation of the seamless robe or the depiction of a saint or ecclesiastic. The flat slabs of the mensa form a single composition, carved in low relief, with a central cross with expanded terminals, a sun and moon to the dexter and sinister respectively, and a large IHS in a central position below the cross-head. There are two figures kneeling on either side of the cross-shaft, representing Richard Cantwell on the damaged dexter slab, with long hair and a beard, and his wife Grace on the sinister slab wearing a long cloak with a fur trim, ruffed collar and hat and holding a rosary. The mensa bears the signature, in roman capitals, of Walter O'Kerin and stylistically is dated 1608, though the '16' part of the date is missing. The Latin inscription in black letter script runs along the dexter side of the dexter slab and across the top of both slabs, though the upper sinister corner (L 0.32m; H 0.13m) of the dexter slab is missing. It was transcribed and translated by Carrigan (1903, 456) as: HIC JACET RICARDUS C ALLEFEEN GENEROSUS Qi OBIIT [date uncut] ET AES UXOR EI' / OPIJFICE ME WALTERVS KERIN ..08, 'Here lie Richard Cantwell of Ballenfeen, Esq., who died [ ] and Graes, his wife. Walter Kerin, maker, 1608'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/2010).