Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

On a gentle E-facing slope, just below the crest of a hill, in rolling grassland, c. 50m NE of a stream which flows into a river c. 400m to the E. In the graveyard (KK009-013002-) associated with the medieval church of Coolcashin (KK009-013001-) and another cross-slab (KK009-019010-) from that graveyard. A roughly rectangular sandstone cross-slab (L 0.63m; Wth 0.37m; T 0.14m), described in detail by Higgins (1989, 599-606). This slab is the upper portion of a larger slab, the shaft of the cross and the cross-base is missing. The incised decoration consists of a 'multi-line Greek cross with expansional semi-circular or D shaped terminals. The cross is of five lines and it is delimited by a single line rectangular frame. It is a roughly equal armed or Greek cross with a roughly centrally placed circular panel decorated with a key or fret pattern at the junction of the arms and shaft. The central panel bears a key-pattern based on a triple division of the panel. A design forming two pairs of opposed Z or S shapes occur in two of the three divisions and a pair of opposite angular "spirals" occur in the third panel. The interiors of the terminals are, by contrast, plain' (ibid., 600-1). On the upper dexter side of the slab there is an inscription, 'in half-uncial script reading OR DO [a prayer for] C.... Unfortunately only the first letter of the personal name survives' (ibid. 601-2). Higgins (ibid., 605) gives a date from the late 8th to the 10th century for this slab. Harney (2011, 124) refers to this form of cross-slab as a Latin cross with expanded circular centre and semi-circular terminals and cites similar examples from Clonmacnoise with a suggested date of late 9th-10th century and from High Island, Co. Galway which have been dated to the 10th/11th century based on the radiocarbon dates from associated burials. The cross-slab is currently located at the parochial house in Lisdowney (see KK009-122----).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 20 July 2018

References

Harney, L. 2011 Medieval burial and pilgrimage within the landscape of Glendalough: the evidence of the crosses and cross-slabs. In C. Doherty, L. Doran and M. Kelly (eds), Glendalough: city of God, 112-36. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

Higgins, J. 1989 Some Early Christian and medieval sculpture from Coolcashin, Co. Kilkenny. Old Kilkenny Review 4, no. 1, 599-610.