Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Cross - High cross
Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Clonmacnoise
- County
- Offaly
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.32627, -7.98602
- SMR number
- OF005-019----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
National Monument No. 81. Shaft of high cross which was found in the wall of St. Ciarans church (OF005-013001-) in 1955 (Hicks 1980, 6). The shaft of the cross (H 0.59m; Wth 0.33m; D 0.16m) is decorated with interlaced beasts in Hiberno-Romanesque style (Edwards 1984, 57-62). Now on display in the Clonmacnoise Interpretative Centre.
Described by Harbison (1992 vol. 1, 56) as following 'A fragment of the upper part of the shaft of a sandstone cross which Liam de Paor found in 1955, buried in the wall of St. Ciaran's church (OF005-013001-). It is 59cm high, 33cm wide and 17cm deep. It has a roll moulding on the edges, with a smaller rib-moulding beside it.
EAST SIDE
A vertical panel of interlace.
SOUTH FACE
Two upright lions with interlocking jaws facing one another.
WEST SIDE
A panel of interlaced Stafford knots.
NORTH FACE
The north face is covered with interlace'.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 May 2011
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.
Hicks, C. 1980 A Clonmacnoise workshop in stone. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 110, 5-35.
Edwards, N. 1984 Two sculptural fragments from Clonmacnois. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 114, 57-62.
Nearby in the register
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Buildingunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Cross - High crossunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.