Tomb — chest tomb in Kilcoolyabbey

In the SE angle of the chancel of Kilcooly Abbey (TS043-034001-). Beneath the piscina credence, there is an altar tomb consisting of a recumbent limestone slab (L 1.8m; Wth 1.01m) which has a straight edge (Wth 0.07m) which then chamfers (Wth 0.14m) towards the base. The slab is decorated in relief with a seven-armed floriated cross, with a three-bar knob at the top of the shaft and the shaft rests on a curving Calvary mount. A vertical band, one on either side of the cross-shaft, falls from the lowest fleur-de-lys to the margin along the base of the slab. There is a foliate pattern in the upper dexter and sinister corner of the slab. Within the margin there is an inscription in latin in black letter script which has been transcribed and translated by Carrigan (1903, vol. 5, 453-4) and by Healy (1890-91, 223), Healy's version is, 'HIC JACENT WILLM CANTWELL QNDA DNS DE BALLYTOBUR ET CLOGHECORDLY QUI OBIIT XXII LUCE APRILLIS A.D. ... ET MARGARETA BUTLER UXOR EJUS QUAE OBIIT XXI DIE MENSIS NOVEMBRIS A.D. MCCCCCXXVIII P QR AIABUS DICETIBUT PAT ET AVE MRENTUR CXX DIES INDULGENTIAR LECTIS HIS IN CHRUSTO QD NON JACR HIC LAPIS CORPUS UT ORNETUR SED SPIRITUS UT MEMORIETUR QUISQUS ERIS QUI TRANSICRIS STA PLEGE PLORA, SUMQD ERIS FUCRAM QD. ES P ME PRECOR' and translated as 'Here lies William Cantwell, late lord of Ballytobur and Cloghecordly, who died the 22nd day of April, A.D. … and Margaret Butler, his wife, who died the 21st day of Novermber, A.D. 1528, for whose souls 120 days' indulgence are gained by those who say a Pater and Ave. These words being read in Christ that this stone is not here placed to ornate the body but to commemorate the soul. Whoso passest by, stand, read attentively, and mourn. I am what thou shalt be. I had been what thou art. Pray for me I entreat thee'. The front panel of the altar tomb consists of three separate panels (H 0.53m; Wth 0.62m; 0.42m and 0.52m from E-W respectively). The centre panel is divided into two vertical flat-headed niches while those on either side are similarly divided into three. Each niche is decorated with either a window tracery motif or a foliage motifs and these are separated by carved pilasters. The end panel, at the W end of the tomb, appears to be from a different altar tomb (TS043-034013----). It is divided into three semi-circular niches, each separated by a twisted column. Each niche contains the figure of a saint, including St James Major wearing a pilgrim's hat ornamented with a scallop-shell and holding a staff and book, St Andrew holding a large saltire cross in front of him with his right hand raised palm outwards and St Peter holding two keys in his right hand and with his left which is beneath his cloak, a book. The niche spandrels are decorated with a trefoil leaf motif. Hunt ascribes this panel to the O'Tunney workshop and dates it to the latter half of the 16th century (Hunt 1974, vol.1, 229, vol. 2, plate 300). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 06 November 2013 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/2010).