Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

In undulating countryside. St. Molua founded a monastery here in the sixth century and he is commemorated on the 4th August. (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 277). Fragment of an east-west wall visible. No other visible surface remains. St. Molua founded a monastery at Kyle in the late sixth or early seventh century, kyle is now known as Clonfert-Molua or Cluain Ferta Moula - the meadow of the grave.

This record refers to one two Early Christian cross-inscribed slabs situated in Clonfert-Molua graveyard (LA015-023002-; see also LA015-023009-). This slab is located 7m N of the S boundary wall of the graveyard and 27m W of the E boundary wall. It is a round-headed slab that was re-used as a grave-marker and is a sandstone slab (dims. 0.85m x 0.54m x 0.06m) and is decorated on its E face with a large cross with a central roundel with expanded terminals.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In this instance the record has been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 22 November 2013

References

O'Hanlon, Rev. J. and O'Leary, Rev. E. 1907 (Reprint 1981) History of the Queen's county, vol. 1. Kilkenny. Roberts Books Ltd.