Cross - High cross (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

Fragment of a possible high cross that originally came from Clonmacnoise (see OF005-064----) and is now housed in the National Museum of Ireland. Decribed by Harbison as ' In the National Museum in Dublin there are some fitting sandstone fragments from Clonmacnoise. The top of the upper fragment is so damaged that it is difficult to know whether it formed part of a pillar or cross. Together, the fragments measure about 90vm in height, and they are 35cm wide and 18cm thick. Their edges have been damaged, and the panels are framed by a raised moulding. There is a large tenon at the bottom, but no trace of a mortise hole on top. Only one face is decorated, suggesting that it may have originally stood against a wall.
MAIN FACE: Three deeply-carved pelta motifs one above the other and rising from a double raised moulding below. At each end they roll into a three-coil spiral terminating in pierced lobes. There is a 'drop' appended to the centre of the pelta, which is formed of two facing trumpet-ends, above which there is a three-pointed interlace.
LEFT SIDE: A panel of interlace.
RIGHT SIDE: A vertical panel divided into three sections. In the centre there is an interlace. Above and below it there are two sunken crosses surrounded by a stepped raised moulding, outside which there is a further stepped moulding with a square in the outer corners' (Harbison 1992 vol. 1, 57).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of upload: 26 January 2009

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.