Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

In a church (CO006-006006-), within an early ecclesiastical enclosure (CO006-006011-). Three fragments of a single cross-slab, one of a series of cross-slabs and slab fragments, mostly of Early Christian date. There are other cross-slabs in the surrounding graveyard (CO006-006008-, CO006-006009-). The description given below is largely derived from the publications by Henderson and Okasha (1992) and Leask (1938, fig. 1, p. 102, and p. 106).

The fragments in Tullylease are a concrete cast made from the original, now housed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. They are arranged on a slab meant to represent the size of the original one (L 0.51m; Wth 0.44m; T 0.05), mounted on the E wall of the church, the N-most of three groups of fragments. It is inscribed with a framed cross with U-shaped expansions, a circular central panel, and ornamented with key-pattern (Henderson and Okasha 1992, no. 6, 2). It was dated by Leask (1938, 106) to the 9th century, by Lionard (1961, 155) to c. 700 AD; Henderson and Okasha (1992, 34) consider it 'somewhat later' than the middle of the 8th century.
 

Compiled by Anne-Julie Lafaye

 

Date of upload: 26 November 2025

References

Henderson, J. and Okasha, E. 1992 The Early Christian inscribed and carved stones of Tullylease, Co. Cork. Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies 24, 1-36. Leask, H.G. 1938 Tullylease, Co. Cork: its church and monuments. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 43, 101-8. Lionard, P. 1961 Early Irish grave-slabs. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 61C, 95-161.