Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

This cross-base has been described by King (2005, 21) as follows: ‘This truncated cone-shaped base has not been previously published, although it was mentioned by Helen Roe in The high crosses of Kells (Dublin, 1975). It is located immediately on the left inside the gate to the graveyard. The visible height is 60cm; the diameter is 84cm at the base and 42cm at the top. The mortice is filled with concrete but approximate measurements are 26cm by 18cm. Two bands of an interlaced pattern framed by one wide and one narrow rib moulding can be seen toward the upper end of the stone. Unfortunately the decoration on over half of the surface of the base is almost entirely degraded, as the stone was used as a gate-stop at the entrance of the lane to the graveyard in the early part of the twentieth century. The base compares very closely with that of the North cross at Kells in shape, scale and ornamentation, and was almost certainly carved by the same craftsman. A date in the tenth/eleventh century is suggested.’

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 2 September 2013