Pr THE „S rCORRAN HERALD? A BallymOt e Heritage Group Pr( kit tiOi) PRICE 40p ISSUE 15 September/October 1988 A CARROWNTEMPLE SLAB On Eurovision 1988 Sligo Champion 1890 by Martin A. Timoney The superb piece of tourist The slab shown is one of publicity seen by over 500 million fourteen slabs so far discovered at PRIZEFIGHT on Eurovision 1988 Song Contest, Carrowntemple, near Gurteen. It may seem to have ignored Co. is perhaps the most perplexing of IN Sligo. Indeed, some of our local all Sligo, if not Irish, Early politicians were quick to claim Christian slabs. On one face is BALLYMOTE that that was so (see Town Talk, carved a figure, while on the other From our Special Correspondent Sligo Champion 13th May, 1988). is a cross with a badly weathered This is not so as one of the now rectangular fret pattern below it. internationally famous Carrown- The slab measures 1.21 metres by temple slabs (see illustrations) was 47cm, and it varies from 6cm to shown in the initial sequence of 10cm in thickness. Youour rumour in the items last shots of major pieces of Irish The standing figure is carved in was wellfounded, as the sculpture. Sligo was not bypassed outline. The sub-circular head has fight which was announced came in that magnificent archaeologi- indentations for the forehead and to a very successful termination cal, historical, cultural chin. Around the face is a wide on last Sunday evening in the presentation that was Eurovision, border, perhaps representing a presence of a select few. The 1988.. halo. Contd. Page 2 principals, seconds and referee, as well as a well known popular gentleman and coming heir to No. 10 Carrowntemple large estates in the neighbourhood Top of Slab showing 'LUGS' formed the interesting group. The spot selected for the rendezvous was some three miles from Ballymote, in a lovely and secluded place where landlordism in the person of the notorious Dodwell has left its mark, by not leaving a house within a radius of two square miles. In a beautiful and well shaded valley surrounded on one side by a clump of trees and the other by a large fort, the pugilists with their friends met punctually at two o'clock. It was rather amusing during the day to see the police how they were baffled. From early morning they were perched on the surrounding hills. In the barn where it was expected the fight would take place, a policeman whose antagonism to these innocent little gloves is especially noticeable, was lying under the hay from five in 368 Carrowntemple Photographs by M. A. Timoney the morning. Contd. page 14 2 A CARROWNTEMPLE SLAB On Eurovision 1988 From page ² The arms are placed straight down by the sides and the feet are out-turned. The figure appears to be naked but originally it could have had a painted loin cloth. Because the navel and nipples are indicated it would appear that the upper parts of the body did not have painted-on clothes. On the other face of the slab is carved cross, consisting of a pair of triple-strand ribbons crossed at right-angles and knotted at their extremities. The cross is ringed by a band which turns inwards at four points to form figure-of-eight knots that occupy the spaces between the arms of the cross. Small bosses are used as space fillers. The area below the cross bears the remnants of a rectilinear or fret pattern. There are strange 'ear-like' features at the top corners of the slab itself. This slab, which is the only Carrowntemple slab decorated on both faces, was intended to stand upright. There can be no doubt about the Crhistian reference of the cross. It is a matter of specualtion as to who the figure represents. Educated speculation is onl y speculation, but the feeling that the figure represents Christ just will not go away. It is impossible to say if there is any appreciable time difference between the carving of the two designs on the slab which appears to me to have been prepared for the figure. The unique character of the carved figure, the only CROSS-FACE representalional design in Carrowntemple, Co. Sligo. Carrowntemple, does not seem to at least 9.40 metres survive in the Photograph by M. A. T. have anything comparable in old graveyard. This is within two these islands. The uniqueness of concentric enclosures. There are several of the designs far surpasses two souterrain chambers (caves) fourteen slabs in a book of essays an y other mainland Sligo slab or to the west of the old graveyard. to Miss Helen M. Roe, the expert pillar and makes this site second Grose. writing in 1 795, noted that of Irish Earl y Christian and only to Inishmurray. at the time of Elizabeth I Medieval learning, for her Carrountemple is an Early Carrowntemple belonged to the ninetieth birthda y . The book is Christian monastic enclosure on castle of Ball y mote. called 'Figures from the Past.' was the lines of Reask (Kerry,) Some of the slabs were brought edited b y Prof. Etienne Rynne, Kiltiernan (Galway, Innishmur- to archaeological notice in 1973 and is available from the Royal ra\ or Clonmacnoise. So far b y Mr. Joseph Sweene y . N. T.. Societ y of Antiquaries, 63 thirteen decorated slabs, one Gurteen. Others wele found by Merrion Square. Dublin. at rough-out for a slab and a socket- Dr. P. F. Wallace of the National (29.50 plus £2 p & p. It contains stone have been discovered. Two Museum and b y m y self, and two twent y lwo essa ys on Early of the slabs are on displa y in the local workers. Jimm y O'Gara and Christian and Mediaeval art in its Treasur y of The National Ra y mond McGuinn, employed in 330 pages. The copy of the statue Museum in Dublin. The the recent clean-up of the of St. Molaise of Inishmurray fragmentary remains of what may graveyard found yet others. In which is in Grange village is dealt have been a medieval parish 1987. Dr. Wallace and I presented with in a seperate essay in the church, measuring 6.40 metres by a description of the site and its book. 3 Prize Fight in Ballymote contd from page I The strictest surveillance was Round six was action packed. COMBAT kept on a well known and popular In round seven both men were sportsman, whom the police breathing very hard and O'S was shadowed all day as they believed in retreat. Round eight O'S POVERTY he was to act as referee. It is knocked K down at end of round. surmised that this true supporter Rounds nine to twelve O'S of the fistic art remained in town asserted his superiority knocking by Una Preston to deceive the police, even though K twice. Round thirteen Kilduff he was in secret forfeiting the weakening stood on the line near pleasure of seeing the fight in his side. O'S measured his man order not to involve others in the and with his right arm fully danger of being caught. extended, quick as a flash, turned COMBAT POVERTY Two young men left the town at completely around on his right twelve o'clock and on the way heel, landing the back of his hand A hugh task. The pattern of to- they picked up a mysterious on K's neck just below the ear. day's poverty has been building looking man with a black bag Kilduff fell flat. up for years and there is little nicknamed 'Jack the Ripper' and Round fourteen O'S got K's idication that a cure will be it is believed Jack came a long way head in a chancery and punished found now. There are all the signs to referee the figu,. .:le greatest him mercilessly. Round fifteen present that point to a greater and credit is due to those who O'S forced the fight with one growing inbalance in our society. succeeded so well in deceiving the terrific blow to the head and three Recent Government cut-backs in police and helping thereby to uppercuts to the chin. K fell on his health care and education have bring the fight to a finish. face down and out. The fight was their greatest effect on the old, the It may not be out of place here formally declared in favour of sick, the poor and, of course, to give a description of the O'Shaughnessy, who received the children. pugilists before giving details of prize of ten pounds. Those who can pay as we have the fight. For certain reasons we Another pair of athletes seen in the past will always have must give assumed names. Kilduff residing in the town are to be in services available to them. Even is a man of some thirty years, the ring in about a week. now new private hospitals are almost six feet tall rather slightly appearing and of course private built with great muscular schools have been and will be appearance and weighing one JANUARY 1890. there for those who can pay for hundred and seventy five pounds, BALLYMOTE them. his face having a stern and care There are rumours that social worn look after his spending some A meeting was held in the welfare is in line for a chop in the ten years in the land of the free. schoolroom on Sunday evening, autumn. What form that will take O'Shaughnessy rather older January 19th to take steps to erect remains to be seen.