Gurning

A photo of a very weather beaten cherub on a gravestone in Friar's Bush Graveyard - reminds me of one of those gurners.

Friar's Bush Graveyard

Two photos I took while visiting Friar's Bush graveyard during the recent Heritage Open Day.

One theory is that it was once a monastery, but it owes the curious name to a holy friar, who was said to have been endowed with some miraculous powers, and it was beside the ancient tree in the centre of the graveyard that he performed his daily devotions, hence the name of "Friar's Bush." The inscription on his tombstone is " This stone Marks Ye Friar's Grave, A.D. 485," so he must have been one of the early disciples of St. Patrick, who had visited this place some time before. LibraryIreland