Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight rise with river to the E. The ecclesiastical remains consist of a medieval church (OF014-029008-), possible abbey church (OF014-029001-), graveyard (OF014-029002-) early Christian cross-slabs (OF014-029003-) and a bullaun stone (OF014-029005-). Cross-slabs were discovered during an excavation carried out in 1934-5 in the area around a medieval church (OF014-029008-) and now housed in the National Museum of Ireland (Reg. No. E. 37: Nonumber 1; Habitat C:14: 13/14). One of two cross-slabs (OF014-029012) (Kendrick 1939 1-20; PRIA 46 1940-1).
Sandstone cross-slab (dims. 0.94m x 0.74m x 0.01m) which was first recorded in 1908 by E. c. R. Armstrong and is now housed in Dublin at the National Museum of Ireland. Described by Macalister as a cross-slab consisting of 'A square, originally surrounded by a key pattern on three sides -- that on the sinister side, as well as the sinister half of the bottom, is worn to evanescence. Outside this, on the dexter side, at the top, there is a rectangular panel containing a guilloche; traces show that there was a similar panel in the corresponding place on the sinister side, now broken and worn away. Inside the square there is an equal-armed cross: a singular feature of the design is the suppression of the dexter boundary-line of the vertical limbs. The horizontal limbs bear what seem to me the simple plait shewn in the diagram: though it is easy to imagine serpents' heads and other complications in some of the worn parts. The upper sinister canton contains a figure of a horned bovine animal grazing: the lower sinister canton has a rather grotesque crucifix: with kneeling angels supporting the Head of the Figure on the Cross. The lower dexter canton has a serpent twisted into a knot: the upper dexter panel has a medley of human figures, evidently intended to imitate the knotted human figures on some of the High Crosses, such as that of Monasterboice. On the vertical shaft there is a similar medley, interwoven with serpentine figures: at the bottom there is a 'sheela-na-gig' (Macalister 1949, 76-7). This slab bears an inscription that reads O~R~DODRAGUNURIA | CHATHA that can be expanded to OROIT DO DRAGUN U RIACHATHA (Macalister 1949, 76-7).

Macalister, R.A. S. 1949, 76-77, Frontispiece photo,drawing concise discussion

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011

References

Kendrick, T.D. 1939 Gallen priory: excavations 1934-5. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 69, 1-20.

Macalister, R.A.S. 1949 Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.