Galway - Annaghdown & Inchaguoille Memorials

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File contributed by:  C.Hunt

ANNAGHDOWN & INCHAGUOILLE MEMORIALS
  [From Francis Joseph Bigger, M.R.I.A., editor of "Ulster
Journal of Archaeology."]

'In the chancel of the Abbey Church at Annaghdown, close to
the south wall facing the west, as is usual with priests'
tombstones, I found a plain stone with the following
inscription, which I copied with difficulty':?

"Pray for the soul of Fathr. | Patrick GALLAUGHLER,
Parish | Priest of Anaghdown | Died ye 14 of Feb. 1771
age 109* years."

*transcriber's note - the 9 is blurred.

'Close by are two incised crosses cut on two stones?only one
is figured in Wilde's "Lough Corrib," so I give your here a
representations of the other, a very beautiful cross (sketch
not shown here). Its total length is 4 ft. 6 in., and it
probably belonged to an ecclesiastic of the fifteenth. This
spot (south side of chancel) was evident favoured by the
clergy, and that was why the aged priest was interred
there.'
___________________________

Inchaguoille-Lough Corrib.

  [From Mr. Francis Joseph Bigger. Belfast.]
'The antiquities on this interesting island are so
attractive to the visitor that he scarce has time to see the
more modern erections, even if he had the desire.
Nevertheless, on my visit last July (1895), on the occasion
of the Field Club's visit to Galway, I was struck with the
only two modern stones in the churchyard standing close
beside the little rude cross-carved pillar with perhaps the
oldest known Christian inscription upon it in Ireland,* and
near to that most beautifully-carved western door way of the
ancient church. These two stones were quite similar, upright
rough-cut limestone, each with similar crosses and ornament,
I only give a copy of the carving from one and add the
second inscription. I would like to know the meaning of the
curious serpent-like ornament below the cross with the
cross-head, also the meaning of the motto under it':?

"Cave ne me tangas.
Pray for the soul of Patrick | O'SULLIVAN,
who died in April 1849 | aged 55 years | Erected by his son
JOHN | R.I.P."
_____

'Second stone, same device':
The second sketch sent by Mr. Bigger, and which we regret we
cannot have engraved with his notes, consists of a Latin
cross having a detach trefoil near the end of each side
branch, and a snake-like animal beneath the foot of the
cross, apparently flying away, as if put to flight by the
cross; it may be meant to represent Sin; the trefoils, the
Trinity, extending in all directions.[Ed.]

*Mr. Bigger, no doubt, alludes to the stone figured on pages
116, 117, vol. 11,. of our "Journal," 1893. [Ed.]


 Source:
 Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the
Memorials of the Dead in Ireland FHL# 1279252