Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in a field c. 200m W of Kilfenora Cathedral (CL016-015002-). Listed in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996) as ‘Cross’. This is the 12th-century high cross known as the ‘West cross’. It is one of originally 6 limestone high crosses at Kilfenora, five of which are still there (see CL016-015006-, CL016-015007-, CL016-015008-, and CL016-015013- all of which are now moved into the cathedral due to weathering). The sixth (CL045-033009-) was moved to Killaloe in 1821 and stands in the cathedral there.
This cross was described by Harbison (1992, 115-16) as a tall ringed cross (H 4.6m; 1.3m across the arms), unusually thin for its height (the bottom of the shaft measures 0.95m by 0.3m) with roll moulding at the edges apart from around the arms of the cross on the W face where this is replaced by rope moulding.
East face: The figure of the crucified Christ dressed in a long robe dominates the head of the East face. Rope moulding and false relief interlace fill the shaft and there is a plain triangle at the base.
West face: This is decorated with a series of panels of interlace. The head has a circular fretwork panel surrounded by a rope moulding and has two-strand interlace flanking it on the arms. The upper shaft is filled with interlocking pelta-shapes together with interlace forming four circular and four square devices. At the base there is a downward-pointing triangle filled with a knot of interlace. The north side is undercorated except for the end of the arm which has two sets of four-pointed knots of interlace forming a square. The south side is undecorated. This is a national monument in State care, no. 8.

The following images have been uploaded:
CL016-015001-_01.jpg High cross from E.
CL016-015001-_02.jpg High cross from W.
CL016-015001-_03.jpg Head of high cross from W.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 25 September 2017

References

Harbison, P. 1992 The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy. Bonn. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH.