Cross - High cross (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

This damaged head of a sandstone high cross (H 0.63m; original Wth c. 0.45m) is almost certainly that described by Wilde (1857, 1, 141-2) as having been dug up 'in making a grave in the old churchyard of Donaughmore, near Navan', Co. Meath (ME025-015004-). It is described by Harbison (1992, 185) as follows: ‘Almost half the head and much of the shaft of the cross are missing. What remains shows, on Face 1 . . . that cross and ring are decorated with roll mouldings, and that the shaft was divided into panels, probably unsculpted. The centre of the cross has a knot of interlace winch expands into the arms and shaft. On the upper limb the interlace develops into a human figure holding up a book. The lower surviving section of the imperforate ring is decorated with a fret pattern while the upper section has an animal emanating above and below from a central spiral coil. Face 2 . . . has been roughly dressed, but bears no traces of sculpture.’ (Harbison 1992, 185)

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 27 June, 2014

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.

Wilde, W.R. 1857 Catalogue of the antiquities of stone, earthen, and vegetable materials in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. M.H. Gill. Dublin.