Cross-slab

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). Situated on a natural rise on low-lying land with N bank of River Brosna 350m to SSE. Graveyard (OF022-004001-) contains 18th/19th-century headstones and is enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall. Early Christian cross-slab (OF022-004003-) recorded by Crawford (1913, 262-5) that was moved from Tisaran graveyard and is now located inside High St. RC church (OF014-052----) near Belmont village.
Cross-slab described by Crawford as, 'A small slab incised with a double-line ringed cross. Immediately below the shaft is a small circle. The inscription or do bran runs across the top and down the sinister side' (Crawford 1913, 265). Recorded by Macalister as following; 'Slab, 2 feet 4 inches [0.71m] x 1 foot 1 inch [0.33m] x 0 foot 7 inches [0.17m], 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).

Macalister, R. 1949, 78, Plate XLII drawing Incomplete Information

See attached drawing of cross-slab taken from Macalister 1949, No. 869

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.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 28 February 2019

References

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.

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.

Macalister, R.A.S. 1945 Corpus inscriptionum insularum celticarum. Dublin. Stationery Office.