Cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Located 15m to the south-east of Saint Martin’s church (CO096-008001-), towards the centre of the surrounding graveyard (CO096-008002-). This is a stone cross, of Latin form, which is carved from a single block of sandstone and measures 0.67m high, 0.28m wide and 0.1m thick. The arms of the cross are short, the left is badly damaged. The shaft, which is of rectangular cross section, splays slightly towards the base. The top terminal of the cross also splays outwards, but to a much greater degree. The western face of the cross is plain. On the eastern face, at the centre of the cross head, is a motif formed of two large concentric circles in raised relief. Overall, the quality of the cross indicates that it was carved by a skilled craftsman. Around the twelfth century new forms of stone grave markers began to be introduced (Higgins 1987, vol. 1, v). Small Latin stone crosses, of this type, continued to be used up until the nineteenth century. These crosses exist in a variety of locations, serving different functions. The association of a stone cross with an early medieval site and which exhibit ‘parallels in features and shapes … with other decorated cruciform shaped stones’ of the early medieval period, can help establish a date for the monument (ibid., 71). An earlier church (CO096-008003-) once stood in the eastern section of the graveyard, it is recorded as a rectangular structure on the OS 6-inch map of 1842 and is marked as ‘site of Chapel’ The cross is located near the site of this church. In the graveyard is a font (CO096-008005-) that is also believed to be associated with the early church. John Sheehan, having seen the cross, believes that it dates to the early medieval period (2019 pers. comms.).

Compiled by: David Herriot

Date of upload/revision: 15 April 2019

Images uploaded courtesy of David Herriott.

References

Higgins, J.G. 1987 The Early Christian cross slabs, pillar stones and related monuments of County Galway, Ireland, 2 vols. British Archaeological Reports, International Series 375. Oxford.