Ballintober_ Tomb

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The front of the tomb itself was decorated with low-relief carvings of the twelve apostles (Egan 1967, 23), though only half of the front panel survive, and five figures. The three to the right are St James, St Andrew, and St Peter. The figure on the far left has been tentatively identified as St Thomas, as he often was depicted with a spear and the figure appears to be holding one. In the first half of the 20th century at least one more figure still existed, captured by art historian Edwin C. Rae (TRIARC Digital Image Collection), and identified as St John. Two fragments of an inscription survive, now set against the wall above the tomb. It would have originally read ‘Here lies the body of Sir Tibbot na Long Bourke, First Viscount Mayo, in which all his posterity was buried, whereof four were Lords or Earls’ (Bourke 1984, 28).