Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Bradley (et. al. 1986, vol. 1, 79) described the South Cross standing in Ballymore Eustace graveyard (KD029-011004-), to the SE of St. John's C. of I. church as consisting of an unpierced ringed cross carved from a single block of granite (total H 1.97m; base: H 0.82m; L 0.46-0.56m; Wth 0.38-0.4m; shaft; H 1.15m; Wth 0.35m T 0.24-0.27m). The base is a tall rectangular piece of stone, not much wider than the shaft, with low moulding around its edges. The gently tapering shaft has rounded edges and is undecorated except for half-diamond shapes on the lower end of each face. Only the lower sections of recessed spandrels forming the ring survive. It is probably pre-1200 in date.
Recent photogrammetric survey of this cross carried out by Seán Sourke clearly shows the V shaped terminal at the base on all four faces of the cross. The survey also revealed faint traces of a possible ringed cross visible on the W face of the base and fainter traces of possible decoration on the other three faces of the cross-base.

See attached photogrammetric images courtesy of Seán Sourke.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 16 October 2020

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.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1986 Urban Archaeological Survey - County Kildare (4 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.