Cross

The National Monuments Service's description

The site lies on the E slopes of Carrickgollogan. A granite cross fragment was found in 1954 during works undertaken by OPW. Each face of the cross bears a cross-in-circle in false relief. Below the cross on one side is a sunken band and semi-circular loops on the upper and lower terminals on the cross (Ó hÉailidhe 1959, 205-6).
Cross fragment described by Ó hÉailidhe as; 'The Rathmichael cross fragment (No. 2) was found in 1954 during renovations by the Board of Works. It is one foot four inches high [0.4m], and is also of granite. In its present mutilated condition it is not possible to attempt a conjectural restoration, but it would appear from the short portion of dressed work on one edge that it was originally a free-standing cross, and not a double sided slab as might otherwise be presumed. Each side bears a cross-in-circle in false relief. On one side it was apparently surrounded by an incised circle, above which is the lower portion of another circle of about the same diameter. Below the cross on the same side is a sunk band, and at the upper and lower terminals of the cross are small semi-circular loops. On the other side there is a similar loop at the upper terminal only'.

See attached drawing of cross fragment taken from Ó hÉailidhe 1959, 206 and drawing of cross taken from Healy 2009, 104.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout and Padraig Clancy

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 17 May 2023

References

Ó hÉailidhe, P. 1959 Some unpublished antiquities of the Early Christian period in the Dublin area. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 89, 205-6.

Healy, P. 2009 Pre-Norman Grave-slabs and cross-inscribed stones in the Dublin Region. Local Studies Section. South Dublin Libraries, Tallaght.