Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 125. Situated seven metres WSW of the E gable of the church (TN018-001001-), having been moved from its original location (Harbison 1970, 232-3). The sandstone base (dims. 0.86m x 0.69m; H 0.43m) is decorated with a sequence of horses on its S face. There is nothing visible on the N or E faces. The W face is unclear. The shaft of the cross is missing and has been replaced with a plain concrete shaft, with pebble inclusions. The sandstone with quartz head of the cross depicts Christ crucified on the W face. The Christ figure, carved in relief, is wearing a long robe with arms extended, neither the hands nor head survive. The cross was encircled but only the lower portion of this open circle survives. The N and S sides of the shaft and the outer surface of the circle are decorated with interlace. The E face is very worn with possible faint remains of an interlace pattern. In 1922, Crawford's photograph of the cross at Monaincha shows that the head of the cross sat directly into the base without any evidence for a shaft (Crawford 1922, 81).
Described by Harbison as 'The head and base of a cross have been united by means of a modern shaft outside the west end of the Romanesque church at Monaincha, near Roscrea. There is no compelling reason why base and head should not be contemporary.
Base
The base is about 43cm high, and measures 85cm by 70cm at ground level. Its east face and north side are undecorated.
SOUTH SIDE
The south side bears two horsemen, between whom there is a large figure with drooping head, possibly speared in the back by the right-hand rider. The horses stand on stepped crosses in relief with sunken equal-armed crosses in the centre. O Sabhaios suggests that the scene may represent Exodus/the 'world'.
WEST FACE
The west face obviously bears figure sculpture, but its nature can no longer be discerned.
Head
The head is about 93cm high and 61cm across the arms. The shaft measures 29cm in width and 20cm in depth. Only the two lower segments of the ring survive, and the armpits have a stepped form.
EAST FACE
The east face bears much-worn animal interlace.
WEST FACE : THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST
The west face bears a belted figure of Christ crucified, standing out about 6cms in relief. He is clad in a long robe, possibly belted at the slender waist, and dropping vertically from the broader hips.
SIDES
Both sides bear much-worn animal interlace. The top of the north side of the shaft has a fragmentary panel bearing the heads of two unidentified figures' (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 138-9).

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

References

Harbison, P. 1992 The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy. Bonn. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH.

Harbison, P. 1970 Guide to the national monuments in the Republic of Ireland. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan.

Crawford, H.S. 1922 Miscellanea: Mona Incha Cross. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 52, 81.