Cross-inscribed stone (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

This stone is currently in Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Chiarraí (pers. comm. Isabel Bennett). Its precise original provenance is not known but it was listed in the SMR (1990) under the townland of Kilvickadownig (KE052-291----). It has been assigned a monument number (KE042-168----) at its present location in Ballyferriter.
Cross-slab described by Cuppage (1986, 327, no. 862) as; 'A small triangular slab measuring a maximum of 0.44m. One face is inscribed with an equal-armed cross with expanded terminals; an oval depression occurs at the apex of the same face. The opposite side is inscribed with a more elaborate design, the main motif being an equal-armed cross with scrolled terminals. A small dot occurs in each of the angles between the arms and also at each side of the arms, in the circular spaces defined by the scrolled terminals. The design is enclosed within a triangular frame in each of the lower angles of which is an inscribed circle with a central dot and in the upper angle a small equal-armed cross with expanded terminals. The sides of the triangle do not quite meet at top, but turn upwards to form a penannular circle with a central dot. The earliest reference to this stone placed it within the cashel (580) that lies directly outside the NW corner of Páirc na Croise (859). Crawford (1912, 235) noted that it had been removed to Adare Manor but listed it under the same number as the missing slab from Páirc na Croise, as if it had been part of the same site. It is now in the National Museum of Ireland.

See attached drawing of cross-slab taken from Cuppage 1986, Fig. 196

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 7 April 2022

References

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

Crawford, H.S. 1912 A descriptive list of early cross-slabs and pillars. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 42, 217-44.