Thread by @JackmanNeil, For #HalloweenAtHome here's a short thread of some of my favourite [...]

Neil Jackman

JackmanNeil

For #HalloweenAtHome

here's a short thread of some of my favourite ghoulish gravestones in Ireland.

While there are no actual human remains in these images, some are pretty gruesome so this comes with a little content warning

#Halloween2020

#Samhain #Halloween

We'll start with my favourite – this remarkable 16th century tomb in St.Peter's Church in Drogheda, #Louth. It depicts Edmund Goldyng & his wife Elizabeth Fleming. This is known as a 'cadaver tomb', designed to make the viewer consider their own mortality
#Samhain #Halloween2020

Even more grisly is the tomb of James Rice (d.1482) in Christ Church Cathedral, #Waterford.

The effigy depicts him as a decomposing cadaver, complete with burrowing toad eating away at his innards.
Lovely!

#Samhain #Halloween2020

#HalloweenAtHome

Even more grisly is the tomb of James Rice (d.1482) in Christ Church Cathedral, #Waterford. The effigy depicts him as a decomposing cadaver, complete with burrowing toad eating away at his innards. Lovely! #Samhain #Halloween2020 #HalloweenAtHome

Another example is 'The Modest Man' dedicated to Thomas Ronan (d. 1554), and his wife Johanna Tyrry (d. 1569), in Triskel Christchurch in #Cork. You can clearly see the burial shroud in this one.

#Samhain #Halloween2020

#HalloweenAtHome

Another example is 'The Modest Man' dedicated to Thomas Ronan (d. 1554), and his wife Johanna Tyrry (d. 1569), in Triskel Christchurch in #Cork. You can clearly see the burial shroud in this one. #Samhain #Halloween2020 #HalloweenAtHome

Another Cork example is the unusual late medieval tomb of Richard Benet & his wife Ellis Barry in St Mary’s Church, #Youghal. The tomb depicts the couple lying side by side, with a number of rather eery stone skulls at their heads

#Samhain #HalloweenAtHome

#Halloween2020

Another Cork example is the unusual late medieval tomb of Richard Benet & his wife Ellis Barry in St Mary’s Church, #Youghal. The tomb depicts the couple lying side by side, with a number of rather eery stone skulls at their heads #Samhain #HalloweenAtHome #Halloween2020

St. Mary's is full of fascinating gravestones and sculpture. I particularly like this vault door, that houses the remains of Peter Miagh, Mayor of Youghal, who died in 1633.

The skull, hourglass and winding sheet are classic symbols of memento mori

#Samhain #HalloweenAtHome

St. Mary's is full of fascinating gravestones and sculpture. I particularly like this vault door, that houses the remains of Peter Miagh, Mayor of Youghal, who died in 1633.The skull, hourglass and winding sheet are classic symbols of memento mori #Samhain #HalloweenAtHome

Another cadaver tomb is located in the friary at Castledermot #Kildare, like the first example at Drogheda this also depicts a husband and wife – James Tallon and Joan Skelton

#Samhain #HalloweenAtHome

#Halloween2020

Another cadaver tomb is located in the friary at Castledermot #Kildare, like the first example at Drogheda this also depicts a husband and wife – James Tallon and Joan Skelton #Samhain #HalloweenAtHome #Halloween2020

Memento Mori symbols on headstones are a little later, often 17th or 18th century. #Monaghan has some particularly good examples, like this one in Errigal Truagh. With symbols of a skull & crossbones, coffin and a tolling bell

#Samhain #Halloween2020

#HalloweenAtHome

Memento Mori symbols on headstones are a little later, often 17th or 18th century. #Monaghan has some particularly good examples, like this one in Errigal Truagh. With symbols of a skull & crossbones, coffin and a tolling bell #Samhain #Halloween2020 #HalloweenAtHome

I love the ones at Clones, they look so cheerful!

Again you can see an hourglass, bell and coffin. The stars may depict the endless night (or maybe I'm being melodramatic)

#HalloweenAtHome

#Samhain #Halloween2020

I love the ones at Clones, they look so cheerful! Again you can see an hourglass, bell and coffin. The stars may depict the endless night (or maybe I'm being melodramatic) #HalloweenAtHome #Samhain #Halloween2020

That's just a few of my favourite examples, but there's so much more to discover!

There are lots of great resources to help you find more.
@DH_Age & @orlapeach have scanned many and it reveals great details. https://sketchfab.com/garydempsey/models

3D models by Gary Dempsey (@garydempsey)

View 3D models by Gary Dempsey (@garydempsey)

https://sketchfab.com/garydempsey/models

And @historicgraves have carried out many surveys of historic graveyards all around the island with local communities. It's an incredible resource:
https://historicgraves.com

You can follow @JackmanNeil.

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