Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Cross-slab decorated with a ringed-cross which was later converted into a free-standing cross which resulted in the removal of the lower sections of the ringed-cross when the arms of the cross were created. Located in Rathcoole Church of Ireland graveyard (DU021-030002-) ESE of the medieval church site (DU021-030001) and lying just SSE of a holed stone. There are extensive views S and W to the foothills of the Dublin mountains with those to the N and E restricted with adjacent buildings. This granite cross measures 0.85m high and approximately 0.65m wide and 0.25m in depth with a broad shaft, wide top and shorter arms to both sides. First identified by Austin Cooper in 1780, according to Ó hÉailidhe (Swords 2009, 81) in antiquity an original graveslab (L. 1.61m x 0.67m x 0.25m) was cut down to form a free-standing cross. Ó hÉailidhe compares it with his group B graveslabs - distinguished by the use of crosses with double raised rings (Ó hÉailidhe 1973) and dating to the 9th century. Considering the depth of the cross at Rathcoole and the similarity of its form to other comparable examples such as the undecorated cross at Newcastle it has been classified here as a cross rather than a graveslab. It comprises a Latin cross, orientated NE to SW with decoration on a single face, the NE one. The decoration is in low relief and comprises indistinct reliefs at the top of the stone and part of the cross centre with paired grooved arcs extending from the centre of the cross downwards towards the base of the cross arms - similar to the upper half of a ringed cross in low relief.

To see a 3D model of this stone visit https://skfb.ly/oIqrI

See attached drawing of Cross taken from Swords 2009, 81.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout and Margaret Keane

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 10 May 2023

References

Ó hÉailidhe, P. 1973 Early Christian graveslabs in the Dublin region. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 103, 51-64.

Swords, K. (ed.) 2009 Pre-Norman grave-slabs and cross-inscribed stones in the Dublin region. 2009 edition of an NUIG MA thesis prepared in 1985. Tallaght, Dublin. Local Studies Section, South Dublin Library.