Cross-slab (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

Early Christian monastery known as Teach Sáráin [Tisaran/House of Saran] founded by Sárán, son of Brógán of the Dál gCais of Thomond in the seventh century (Ó Riain 2011, 547-8; ITA Survey 1942). Early Christian cross-slab (OF022-004003-) originally located inside Tisaran graveyard (OF022-004001-) that has been removed and is now kept inside High St. R.C. church near Belmont village.
The cross-slab was first drawn by Margaret Stokes based on a rubbing of the slab taken by Rev. James Graves in 1873 (Petrie 1878, 50). Described in 1913 as, 'A small slab incised with a double-line ringed cross. Immediately below the shaft is a small circle. The inscription 'or [oroit] do bran' [Pray for Bran] runs across the top and down the sinister side' (Crawford 1913, 265). Cross-slab recorded in 1949 as following; 'Slab, 2 feet 4 inches x 1 foot 1 inch x 0' 7", bearing a wheel-cross with a circle added to the lower terminal. Inscription on top and sinister side 'or do bran'. In the oval sinkings in the contours of the cross there appears to have been originally extremely fine patterns of interlacement, in minuteness recalling manuscript work. They are, however, too much weathered to be restored with any approach to certainty. The stone, which was lying in the old cemetery in this parish, has now been transferred safely to the modern church' (Macalister 1949, vol. 2, 78).

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of revised upload: 01 March 2019

References

Petrie, G. 1878 Christian inscriptions in the Irish language. Chiefly collected and drawn by George Petrie, LL. D.; and edited by Margaret Stokes, 2 vols. Dublin.

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

Crawford, H.S. 1913 A descriptive list of early cross-slabs and pillars. (cont.) Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 43, 151-69, 261-5, 326-34.

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.