Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Associated with the ecclesiastical remains at the SE end of Cruach na Cara/St Macdara’s Island. Located within an enclosure (GA076-020014-), c. 20m to the NE of the church (GA076-020001-). When recorded by Bigger (1896, 109), this plain limestone cross-slab (H 1.1m; max. Wth 0.58m; Wth of shaft 0.45m; T 0.07m) was upright on top of a leacht (GA076-020010-). It is now set in the ground c. 3m to its SSE. Described by Higgins (1987, ii 389, no. 109) as a straight-sided slab with ‘gently sloping shoulders which expand into a large, irregularly-shaped protrusion or end.’ This suggests that, in its present form and when it was on the leacht, the cross-slab is inverted in the ground. An irregular groove is visible running across the centre of the upper area of the slab. A small spherical granite boulder on the ground to its W may be a cursing stone (see GA076-020026-) that was formerly located on the leacht. (Gosling 1993, 172, no. 997 c)

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.

Gosling, P. (compiler) 1993 Archaeological inventory of County Galway, vol. 1: West Galway. Dublin. Stationery Office.

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.