Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Sandstone cross-slab (dims. 0.79m x 0.48m x 0.1m) unearthed by Kendrick during his excavations in 1935 at Gallen priory. Described by Macalister as 'A stone...broken into pieces, of which three survive' that has been decorated with an equal-armed 'Cross in a group of concentric circles' (Macalister 1949, 74). This slab bears an inscription LEC CU[R]NEN, when translated, reads as the 'Stone of Curnen ' (Macalister 1949, 74)

Two fragments remain, lower right section missing. West Wall, West Facing, North off centre.
Diagram A5
Inventory of Carved Stone ID 000043 and ID 000044 and ID 000045.
ID 000043- Dimensions: Height 0.35m Width 0.37m
Cross Slab. Dexter and upper edges irregular, sinister and lower edges broken off across dexter lateral arm and upper sinister quadrant. Design in false relief consists of two equal arms of cross with a double ring, the whole enclosed in a circle. A round projection from the centre of the arms of the cross extends into the two surviving quadrants.
ID 00044- Missing
ID 00045- Dimensions Height 0.68m Width 0.17m
Cross Slab. Sinister piece of slab. Upper sinister corner, sinister quite regular, 'waisted' below level of outer circle, terminates in an asymetrical point. The pattern consists of the sinister arm and part of the two inner rings and enclosing circle. Part of an inscription can be deciphered below the enclosing circle and running concentric with in. It reads 'EP'. Beneath the inscription are two looped bands.

Descriptions from Inventory of Carved Stone, SMR.

Kendrick, JRSAI 69 (1939) p. 12, Fig. 5 (T11) (R8) (R9)

Reference
Macalister, R.A.S. 1949 74-75, Plate XXXV drawing minor reference

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of upload/revision: 17 August 2012

References

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

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