Graveslab, St. Dominicks Abbey, Co. Tipperary

Co. Tipperary |

Tombs & Memorials

Graveslab, St. Dominicks Abbey, Co. Tipperary

On the floor of St. Dominick's Abbey in County Tipperary lies a graveslab that offers almost nothing to the eye, and that absence is precisely what makes it worth noticing.

No carved cross, no knotwork, no inscription. Just a plain tapered limestone slab, its lower portion lost beneath the ground, lying flat in the nave just north of the south transept. It measures 1.28 metres in length, narrowing from 0.71 metres at the top to 0.58 metres at the middle, with only 0.07 metres of depth visible above ground level. The edges are chamfered, meaning they are cut away at a slight angle rather than left square, a modest finishing touch that is the only sign of deliberate craft on an otherwise unadorned surface.

Maher, writing in 1987, noted the slab's presence and dimensions, though the identity of whoever lies beneath it remains unknown. Medieval graveslabs of this type were commonly laid over the burials of clergy or patrons of a religious house, and the Dominican friaries of Ireland produced many such markers during the later medieval period. The plain character of this example sets it apart from the more elaborately decorated slabs found elsewhere, where effigies, heraldic shields, or foliate crosses would signal the status of the deceased. Here, there is nothing of that kind. Whether that reflects the rank of the buried individual, the customs of this particular community, or simply the loss of surface detail over centuries, the slab does not say.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Graveslab, St. Dominicks Abbey, Co. Tipperary. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement