Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Erected c. 2006 in the middle of the ‘sacristy’ situated N of the chancel in Kilfenora Cathedral (CL016-015002-) due to weathering. Listed in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996) as ‘Cross’. This is the 12th-century high cross known as the ‘Doorty’ cross which formerly stood in the graveyard (CL016-015003-) W of the church. It was one of originally 6 limestone high crosses at Kilfenora, five of which are still there (see CL016-015005-, CL016-015007-, CL016-015008-, and CL016-015013-) and one of which was moved to Killaloe in 1821 (CL045-033009-). This cross is constructed from fragments found c. 1956 and later. The lower part was used upside-down by the Doorty family as a tombstone, hence the name. The cross (H 2.83m; Wth 0.75m across the arms) has a tapering shaft (Wth 0.56m at the bottom; T 0.19m) and has an imperforate uneven ringed head. Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 114-15) describes the carved images as follows: E face (now facing W), lower portion: Two clerics, likely to be St. Anthony and St. Paul linking arms, one holding a drop-headed crozier, the other a T-headed one, over a winged beast. Upper portion: An unidentified bishop or abbot (possibly St. Fachtnan, the founder of the church at Kilfenora). S face (now facing N): Above a single human head is a figure with right hand down by the side and with the left hand placed across the chest, holding a book. Above is interlace. W face (now facing E), lower portion: A horseman on top of a shingled roof with ornamental scrolls interlaced by a narrow-bodied animal above. Upper portion: A badly worn crucified Christ. N face (now facing S): An irregular interlace on the shaft surmounted by a chequer-board pattern. (See Harbison 1992 for detailed description.) This is a national monument in State care, no. 8. (de Paor, 1955-6, 55-8)

The following images have been uploaded:

CL016-015006-_01.jpg The Doorty cross, E face (after Harbison) in its former location in the graveyard.
CL016-015006-_02.jpg The lower portion of the E face (after Harbison) of the Doorty cross now housed in the cathedral.
CL016-015006-_03.jpg The Doorty cross, W face (after Harbison) in the glass-roofed 'sacristy' of the cathedral.
CL026-015006-_04.jpg The Doorty cross, S face (after Harbison).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 19 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.

De Paor, L. 1955 The limestone crosses of Clare and Aran. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 26, 53-71.