Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Located just above the landing place at Cruach na Cara/St Macdara’s Island, this granite cross-slab (H 0.98m; Wth 0.46m) is beautifully decorated on both faces. Described by Higgins (1987, ii, 348-9, no. 72) as a pillar that has been worked to look vaguely cruciform, short stubby arms project slightly from the sides. The E face bears a large outline Latin cross in false relief with prominent T-shaped terminals. The base terminates in a pair of opposed angular spirals. A roundel is visible at the junction of the arms and shaft and there is a small boss with a central hollow in each of the two upper cantons. Possible conjoined boss-like features are evident in the lower cantons.
The W face bears another Latin cross in false relief that is enclosed in a broken semicircular band. The cross forms an openwork pattern and has subrectangular terminals with two ‘steps’ beneath each arm. There is a rectilinear recess at the junction of the arms and shaft and it contains a boss with a central hollow. Conjoined bosses, similar to those on the E face, are visible in the lower cantons. A large triquetra knot is visible below the cross. Another recumbent cross-slab (GA076-020001-) is visible 6m to the N. (Bigger 1896, 109-110; Crawford 1907, 212, 218)

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 6 June 2018

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.

Bigger, F.J. 1896 Cruach Mac Dara, off the coast of Connamara: with a notice of its church, crosses, and antiquities. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 26, 101-12.

Crawford, H.S. 1907 A descriptive list of early Irish crosses. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 37, 187-239; 43, 151-69, 261-65, 326-34.