Tomb — chest tomb (present location) in Patrickswell (inishlounaght Par.)

In interior of the church (TS083-004001-) at St Patickswell, at the E end close to the N wall, there is a composite altar-tomb to the White family. It was originally erected in the White Mortuary Chapel in St. Mary's, Clonmel (TS083-019001-) and was brought to St. Patrick's Well when the mortuary chapel was demolished in 1805 (Burke 1907, 265-7; Holland 1992, 199-200). The various components of the tomb were only speculatively reassembled in 1967-9 (Shee and Watson, 1975, 53). On the S side of the tomb (L 1.7m; H 1.5m) there are three panels. The central panel depicts the crucifixition, with the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross on the left and St. John the disciple on the right. The buildings depicted in the background represent Old Jeresulem and there is possibly a river in the foreground. INRI is on the top of the cross and the sun and moon are on either side. The left panel depicts John the Baptist in the water, wearing a loincloth and holding a cross-headed staff in his left hand, though this scene has been interpreted as the Resurrection (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 174). The left part of the panel is missing. The panel to the right of the crucifixition is the Virgin and Child, the Virgin enthroned with the Child on her lap. Roses are on either side of the crucifixition panel in the spandrel of the arches which frame each panel. The W side of the tomb has a memorial plaque (Wth 0.72m; H 0.84m; max. D 0.16m). Shield showing the White coat of arms with chevron engrailed between three roses, two over one. Underneath an inscription in Latin reads "Memento Mori" with a skull and crossbones. The plaque is in a moulded frame with an inscription at the base '10 MAI 1623'. The N panel (L 1.6m; H 0.65m) consists of an IHS motif fromed on either side by a stylised column, to the right of which is a Latin inscription. The inscription reads: Hic Jacet D. Nicholaus White Armiger, vir pietate, constantia, mansuetudine et integritate moru[m] conspicuus et amabilis. Obijt 30 die Augusti Ao.Dni 1622, ejus corpus ex antecessoru[m] capella quae borealem sacelli hajus partem respicit in hoc monumentu[m] 22 die Decembris AoD 1623 translatu[m] est cuius animae propitietur Deus. Sacellu[m] hoc S. no[m]i Jesu ejusq, genetrici B. Mariae Virgini dicatum construxerunt in perpetuam dicti Nicolae memoriam Barbara White uxor ejus vidua et Henricus White filius ejus et Haeres (Power 1907, 293). This has been translated as, "Here lies Mr. Nicholas White, Esquire. A man known and beloved for his piety, staunchess, refinement, and excellence of character, He died 30th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1622. His body on the 22nd day of December in the year of our Lord 1623 Was brought to this monument from the Chantry of his ancestors which faces the north side of this chapel. May God have mercy on his soul. Barbara White, his widow, and Henry White, his son and heir, have built this chapel as a perpetual memorial of the said Nicholas, and dedicated it to the holy name of Jesus and of his Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary" (Burke 1907, 267; Morrissey 1909, 266). The E side of the tomb is blank. The top of the altar-tomb (L 2m; Wth 0.53m; D 0.06m) is probably original. It is only moulded on one side and probably originally abutted the chapel wall. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011