Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

On the lower S-facing slope of Kilmacoliver Hill, overlooking the valley of the River Suir. Associated with the early medieval monastery of Kilkieran, and within Kilkieran graveyard (KK034-032002-) there is a tall slender high cross (H 3.2m; base of shaft Wth 0.28m, T 0.25m; arms Wth 0.43m), which stands E of the church (KK034-032001-) and NE of Harbison's South Cross (KK034-032004-). It stands in a round, undecorated base (diam. 1.26m; H 0.33m). The corners of the cross are decorated with rope-moulding. The cross is described by Harbison (1992, 117) as the East Cross and by Roe (1976, 35-7) as the North or Tall Cross. The E face of the cross has a sunken vertical panel on the lower part of the shaft. Above this the shaft is divided into small square or rectangular panels, decorated in light relief with eroded ornamentation (ibid.). The lowest panel has a round boss in the centre surrounded by a square, with possible L-shaped fields at the corners which Harbison (ibid.) suggests imitate enamel decoration. There are two raised Greek crosses below the square panel at the crossing, which is decorated with a St Andrew’s Cross with expanded semi-circular terminals (ibid.). The W facing shaft also has a sunken vertical panel on the lower part. On the upper part there are semi-circular indentations on either side, above and below the arms. The side arms are slightly proud of the cross and are carved as two separate panels which are joined in the centre by two horizontal bands. Harbison (ibid.) suggests that the sides are not decorated, however, there could have been ornamentation which has since eroded. Roe (ibid., 9) suggests an 8th-century date for the Kilkieran high crosses.
(National Monument no. 79)

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 19 June 2018

References

Roe, H.M. 1976 (Reprint 1982) High crosses of Western Ossory. Kilkenny. Kilkenny Archaeological Society.

Harbison, P. 1992 The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy. Bonn. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH.