Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Cross-slab
Churchland, County Offaly, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Churchland
- County
- Offaly
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- SMR number
- OF039-003016-
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Monastery founded by St. Kieran the elder in the fifth century (ITA Survey 1943), consisting of an irregular shaped graveyard (OF039-003007-) with poorly preserved church (OF039-003005-) with gun turret at SE angle, base of round tower (OF039-003003-) at NW angle, base of high cross (OF039-003002-), cross-slabs, architectural fragments, 19th-century C of I church and medieval earthworks of a deserted medieval settlement enclosing graveyard from S through W to N and low motte (OF039-003----) to SW, all of which is contained within the impressive remains of a bivallate ecclesiastical enclosure (OF039-003001-). Early Christian cross-slab described by Crawford as 'a third early slab (not described)' (Crawford 1913, 265). In 1916 Crawford described this slab as 'a rough sandstone slab on which is incised a five-line cross with circular centre and semi-circular extremities. The centre and extremities contain fret patterns of simple form' (Crawford 1916, 166). The location of this slab has not been identified.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.
Date of upload: 23 May 2011
References
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.
Crawford, H.S. 1916 Supplementary list of early cross-slabs and pillars. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 46, 163-7.