Memorial stone (present location), Baunmore, Co. Galway

Co. Galway |

Memorials

Memorial stone (present location), Baunmore, Co. Galway

Set into the roadside face of a churchyard wall in Baunmore, County Galway, a small stone plaque dated 1728 raises an interesting question before you have even read its inscription: who commissioned it, and why does the carving show two figures rather than one?

The rectangular slab measures just 43 centimetres high by 33 centimetres wide, yet it carries a surprisingly detailed scene in its upper half, with a standing male figure, arms raised and spread, occupying the top left quarter, and a kneeling figure in profile, hands joined and lifted towards him, in the top right. These are understood to represent Christ on the cross and Mary beside him.

Below the figures, the stone's inscription tells a family story compressed into a few chiselled lines. A man identified as Thomas, his surname partially legible and uncertain, either O'Kelly or O'Reilly, and his wife Mary Hynes erected the image in remembrance of Saint Bridget in 1728. The phrase "their posterity" suggests they intended the memorial to carry weight beyond their own lifetimes, a dedication passed forward to descendants as much as backward to the saint. Bridget of Kildare, one of Ireland's three patron saints alongside Patrick and Columba, had a particularly enduring popular cult, and dedicating an image to her memory in the early eighteenth century was an act that sat within a long tradition of private devotion woven into local parish life. The stone is currently set into the wall to the left of the gate entering the church at Baunmore, though the phrasing "present location" suggests it may not have originated there.

The slight uncertainty over the family surname, preserved honestly in the record with both readings offered, is itself part of what makes the plaque compelling. After nearly three centuries, the lettering has worn enough that the stone holds onto a small secret, the full identity of the couple who paid to have the image cut, just out of reach.

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 Memorial stone (present location), Baunmore, Co. Galway. 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