Wall monument in Caherconlish

17th century wall monument of Theobald Bourke and his wife Slaney Brien located against the E face of the chancel arch in the SE corner of the the chancel of the medieval church ruins (LI014-079005-) of Caherconlish. Described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick as following; "Limestone wall memorial (dims. 1.35m x 1.46m) in two sections; the lower one consists of a panel flanked by pilasters with architectural designs in false relief and is inscribed in Roman lettering: hVNC TVMVLVM THEObALdS.BoVRK SIbI Et vXORIS sVae / slaNi BRiEN fIeRe FF.CIT../BOVRKIAna SOBOLES caROl sang/ VINE TINCTA ATQVE BRYANNORum/ HIC THEOBALDI lACES TECVM PERlre( ISSIM. FIRMA FIDE MARTIS GLORIA PACls/ IONOS MACTE TAMEN NON TOTVS ABIS TVa FAMA SVPERSTES MAT S/ ET TENVMEROS APHALANX SPIRITVS AD SVPERAS VOL.../ RTHEVS ORA SVRNAE SITO I N ERK OM PIACITVRA TVO ANNO DOM The upper sub-rectangular panel has a crucifixion flanked by depictions of the virgin and John and the symbols of the passion are incised beside Christ' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 91-2; Lenihan 1866, 727; Mems Dead vi (1904-6), 114; Westropp 1904-5, 440). This monument was described in 1681 by Thomas Dineley as a mural monument on the south side of the chancel of the church. The inscription on the mural monument read ; 'HVNC TVMVLVM THEOBALDVS BOVRK SIBI ET VXORI SVI SLANIE BRIEN FIERI FECIT BVRKIARVM SOBOLES CAROLINO SANGINE TINCTE ATQVE BRIANORVM NOBILITATA TRIBV HIC THEOBALDE IACES TECVM' (Mems. Dead 1904-06, 114). Thomas Dineley drew a sketch of this memorial on which he wrote the following about the location of the monument; 'On the right hand going up to the Altar place of ye Chancel of Carigkenlish [Caherconlish] is seen this monument against the wall' (NLI MS 392; Shirley 1858-67). The sketch shows the wall memorial as consisting of three parts with an inscribed panel flanked on either end by urns or vases standing on top of a box like tomb structure. Above the inscribed panel are three round-arched niches with crucified Christ in the central panel with INRI above and skull & crossbones below with ladder on left hand side. To the left there was carved figure of Mary with the words 'Sancta Maria' carved into the arch above the figure. To the right of Christ there is a figure of St. John with the words ST Johannes' carved into the arch above. Above these three figures rise decorative columns/balustrade, the central column is inscribed with the letters I H S. All three columns are topped with a ball finial (Shirley 1858-67, 198). See attached photo of wall memorial courtesy of Patrick Hourigan Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 02 July 2019

The wall monument in Caherconlish was built in the 17th century and commemorates Theobald Bourke and his wife Slaney Brien. It is set within the ruins of a medieval church and reflects the architectural and funerary traditions of the period, signifying the presence of a locally prominent family.