What is recorded here

Graveslab in Tullowphelim is a worn 17th-century limestone tomb for Edmund Byrne and Margareta Masterson, marked by a five-armed cross, Passion symbols and the maker’s name, Murtagh Murray. It lies in Tullow graveyard, carrying the quiet epitaph that a person was earth, becomes earth again, and lies down among worms. The slab still holds that much: a marriage, a death in 1625, and a craftsman bold enough to sign his work beneath the grave.

17th century graveslab (dims. L 1.9m; Wth 0.91m) dedicated to Edmund Byrne in Tullow graveyard (CW008-045014-). Described in the Urban Survey of County Carlow (Bradley et. al. 1990, 70) as ‘a very worn rectangular limestone slab lies in the graveyard with a five armed cross, symbols of the Passion and marginal inscription in very low false relief: HIC JACET EDMVN/DVS/ CAROLI BYRNE QVI OBIIT 10 DIE APRILIS ANO DONI 1625 / ET EIVS VXOR MARGARETA/ MASTERSON QUAE OBIIT / TERRA FUI QUONDA RURSUS SU TERRA NIHIL SUM / TERRA CADUCA VALE VERMES SALUETE RECUBO / MORTAGH MVRY MASON’. In 1892-4 the following account was given: 'it is an "altar tomb" about 7 feet (2.13m) long, by 3 feet 6 inches (1.06m) wide, with a floriated cross in the centre. Many of the letters are completely worn away ':, ''HIC . JACET . ED [ward?] VS • CAROLI - BYRNE • QVI • OBIIT • 10 DIE . APRILIS, AN • DOM • 1625|6?TERRA • FUI • QUAND [AM] [R] URSVS . SVM . TERRA . NIHIL • SUM •TERRA .........D ........A . UALE • VERMES SALUE • TE [?] AECUBO •ET • EIUS • UXOR • MAR........ MASTERSON QUI • OBIIT ..............." At the foot is cut ':, "[M] ORTAGH MVRV [?] MASON." (Anon. 1892-4, 445). Described in 1898-1900 as following, 'The Byrne slab measures 6 ft. 8 inches (2.03m) in length, 3 feet 1 inch in breadth (0.94m), and 6 inches (0.15m) in thickness. Down the centre of both slabs runs an ornamental five-armed cross with an interlaced stem; the arms end off in the fleur-de-lys,and the head consists of three concentric circles. On either side of the stem can be traced emblems of our Lord's Passion and Crucifixion; but the devices, originally in low relief, are now so much worn that it is very difficult to distinguish the emblems. In each slab, one end and one side are bevelled underneath; the other end and side rough. The sculptor of these slabs was one Murtagh Murray, whose name appears on the Byrne slab. The literal translation of the epitaph (for which my thanks are due to the Rev. J. L. Jesson) occurs on both the slabs, and is as follows : Terra fui quondam, = I once was earth, Eursus sum terra, I am earth again, Nihil sum, I am nothing else. Terra caduca vale, = Farewell, frail earth ! Vermes salvete, recubo. = Hail, Worms ! I lay me down.' (FitzGerald 1898-1900, 186-8). See attached drawing of graveslab taken from Lord Walter FitzGerald 1898-1900, 186. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 September 2014

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