Burke Headstone, Dorrha Graveyard

3D Model

Late 18th-century headstone marking the family burial plot of the Burke family at the western end of the medieval church ruins of Dorrha, in Graigue townland, Co. Tipperary. The top of the headstone is decorated with two winged soul-effigies flanking a four-leafed cross rising from the H of the Christogram. The cross-bar of the H is semi-circular shaped which represents Golgotha or the mount on which Jesus was crucified. The inscription is contained within a bevelled or chamfered frame the border of which is decorated with a running lozenge motif. The rear of the headstone is decorated with a large circular-shaped eight-pointed sunburst motif with face in centre. Below this there is the date Septr. ye 19th 1778. The double semi-circular shaped headstone possibly represents the headboard of a bed, echoing the idea that the deceased is merely asleep in the graveyard waiting to awake on the Day of Judgement.