Tomb of Saint Nicholas facts for kids
Tombstone of a medieval cleric, popularly believed to depict Saint Nicholas
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 52°30′36″N 7°10′08″W / 52.5100°N 7.1688°W |
| Type | effigy |
| Part of | Newtown Jerpoint |
| History | |
| Material | Stone |
| Founded | early 14th century |
The Tomb of Saint Nicholas is a stone carving found in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It shows a religious leader from the early 1300s. Many people believe this carving is connected to Saint Nicholas of Myra, who is famous for inspiring the legend of Santa Claus.
However, it's more likely that the tomb belongs to a local priest. This carving is located in a place called Newtown Jerpoint. This was once a busy medieval town that is now lost. It sits near the old Cistercian Jerpoint Abbey.
The tomb is about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of Thomastown. It is on the land of a private property called Jerpoint Park. The old St. Nicholas's Church and its graveyard are also in this area. Some stories say that the real Saint Nicholas of Myra is buried here.
The memorial has been moved since 1839. It has also been damaged by a falling tree. In 2007, a plan was made to protect it. Before conservation work began in 2013, the church and tomb were carefully studied. They were even made into a 3D model.
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Discovering Newtown Jerpoint's Past
The town of Newtown Jerpoint was established in the 1100s. It was built near a toll bridge over the River Nore. This bridge gave Jerpoint its name, which means 'Nore bridge'. It was a lively town with many homes and businesses.
Newtown Jerpoint had a court house and a mill for wool. There was also a tannery and a brewery. People say it even had 14 taverns! The town continued to exist until at least the 1600s.
However, Newtown Jerpoint eventually disappeared. This might have happened because its bridge was lost. Or perhaps the main road was moved to a different path. The remains of the town are still visible today. It is also very close to one of Ireland's best-preserved Cistercian abbeys. This makes Newtown Jerpoint an important place to study medieval settlements in Ireland.
The ruins of St Nicholas's medieval church date back to the 1100s or 1200s. It has a special rood gallery from the later medieval period. There is also a tower where the local priest would have lived.
Belmore House: A Grand Building
Belmore House was built in the 1700s. It was designed by the Irish architect Sir Richard Morrison. Earl Belmore ordered it to be built as a hunting lodge.
There were plans to make the house even bigger. A square villa was supposed to be added to one end. The rest of the house would become a service area. However, this extension was never built. Earl Belmore's main home was Castle Coole in County Fermanagh.
The Legend of Saint Nicholas's Burial
Many people believe that the bones of Saint Nicholas, who inspired Santa Claus, were buried in Newtown Jerpoint. This is said to have happened in the 1100s. The stone slab on the grave shows a religious leader. It also has the heads of two knights behind his shoulders.
The story says these knights were crusaders. They supposedly brought Nicholas's remains to Ireland. There is some evidence that this tale could be true. The Normans in Kilkenny were known for collecting religious items. Also, Norman knights did take part in the Holy Land Crusades.
Churches Named After Saint Nicholas
Many churches in Ireland have been named after Saint Nicholas. In 1191, Pope Celestine III created the parish of St. Nicholas in Dublin. Other Irish churches in the Medieval Pale included Skryne and Dunsany.
There was also the Church of St. Nicholas Within, Dublin, located inside Dublin's city walls. After the Reformation, another church, the Church of St Nicholas Without, Dublin, was built nearby. The Roman Catholic Church of St Nicholas of Myra Without is also in the area.
