Alas, it is not possible to enter the chancel to get a good view of the fresco. Given the the modern Irish gurrier is capable of more wanton vandalism than the Vikings, Normans and Cromwell combined, I realise that it is a necessity to keep anything delicate railed off from common access. Having said that, it would have been better to put in a clear barrier (e.g. toughened perspex) in the chancel, so that one could look directly at the fresco. This photograph was taken by poking the camera lens through the rails of a gate and zooming in on the image. Because of the low light, the contrast is poor in the photograph, which makes an already fuzzy image even harder to discern
The best thing to do is to compare this picture to the picture of the plaque (which shows the original).According to 1, the tableau is as follows:- at the bottom of the picture is an angel (now almost invisible), Christ with his hands raised in blessing, and the martyrdom of St. Sebastian.On the top is a representation of the Three Dead Kings and the Three Live Kings. Under the Dead Kings was the inscription "We have been as you are, you shall be as we are".The Live Kings are depicted in a hawking scene.It is thought to have been commissioned around 1400 by Malachie O'Nollan and Conaire O'Eddichan.
It's thought that the fresco would have been a colourful work originally, despite the austerity of the Cistercians. When I was in Corcomroe, I noticed that the plaster had a similar pattern to Knockmoy. However, there are no traces of any murals in corcomroe, nor is there any record of such decorations.
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