Cross

The National Monuments Service's description

In flat terrain at the base of a steep E-facing slope, the E cross was composite in character (max. L 4.06m; Wth at foot 0.73m; Wth at lower shaft 0.54m tapering to 0.48m; T c. 0.23m), only the shaft (H c. 2m; Wth c. 0.52m; T c. 0.23m) of which is in situ 6.4m from the SE angle of St Peakaun's church (TS075-023001-). The shaft was rebated and this rebate extended inwards at the junction of shaft and arms to form hollow angles (Waddell and Holland 1990, 175). It bears a long inscription in Irish and rudimentary incised ornament (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 133; Okasha and Forsyth 2001, 290-97; Charles-Edwards 2003, 13-15) including three equal-armed incised crosses (ibid. 2001, 291). At the centre of the crossing on the W face there is an outline cross with hollowed armpits and a similar one in the middle of the shaft on the E face (ibid.). The upper portion of the cross (max. L 0.93m including tenon at top (L 0.19m); Wth 0.49m; T 0.16m) is embedded in the ground immediately E of the main shaft. According to Weir (1980, 216) the cross was flanked by two 'crutches' representing the Thieves' Crosses.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 14 April 2014

References

Charles-Edwards, G. 2003 The east cross inscripton from Toureen Peacaun: letterform analysis and a suggested reading. Archaeology Ireland 17 (1), 13-15.

Okasha, E. and Forsyth, K. 2001 Early Christian inscriptions of Munster: a corpus of the inscribed stones. Cork University Press.

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.

Weir, A. 1980 Early Ireland: a field guide. Belfast. Blackstaff Press.