CO-SMCY-0807

This arch is described in Samuel Hayman's "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Youghal"1854, thus: " A sepulchral arch of this older building is preserved in its north wall; and numerous portions of the tapered tomb-stones of the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries have been discovered here...In the arched recess of the sepulchral arch before us is laid one of the most interesting of our tapered slabs.a finely-sculptured cross-fleury, the arms forming a kind of Runic knot, runs down its whole length.The only words to be traced, and they are pathetic ones are "Dieu, ait merci-God have mercy."

A modern plaque placed here reads :"A Norman Coffin Lid. The inscription is in Norman French in the LOngbardic capitol.It is very much defaced, and all we can now make out are these pathetic words "Oh God have merci"