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-), standing SW of the tallest of the high crosses (KK034-032003-). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 243) this is one of two high crosses which had been maliciously broken ‘long ago’, but was restored, ‘in an admirable manner, in 1858, by a blind mechanic, from Faugheen, named Paddy Laurence’. The sandstone cross stands on a square base (H 0.45m; Wth 0.95m) with chamfered faces. The cross is described by Harbison (1992, 117) as the South Cross and by Roe (1976, 35-7) as the East Cross. The cross is similar to the high cross described by Harbison as the West Cross (KK034-032005-), though lacks its elaborate decoration. The cross (H 1.98m; base of shaft Wth 0.34m, T 0.28m; arms Wth 1.02m) has raised flat mouldings around the edges and a flat-topped boss at the centre. The ring has no moulding. The cross has a flat-topped beehive-shaped capstone (H 0.35m; Wth 0.33m) which has a recessed horizontal band (H 0.05m) around its base. 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

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

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.

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