Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

On an E-facing slope in undulating hilly terrain. A high cross, of sandstone, is centrally placed within a square graveyard (TS079-007005-) defined by a stone wall. A later medieval church (TS079-007001-) is located c. 30m to the N. Another high cross (TS079-007002-) is located to the N and a cross base to the NE (TS079-007004-). The S cross (H 3.35m; Wth 1.33m) is of the ringed high cross type with a low conical capstone. The cross itself is decorated with ornamental designs which are paralleled in 8th-century metalwork (Richardson and Scarry 1990, 29). The base (1.21m x 1.17m; H 0.5m) is decorated with denuded figured scenes on all four sides, each panel is divided in two by a cross in relief. The N and S side depict a hunting scene; the E side includes Daniel in the lions' den on the left; the S side includes the fall of man on the left; the W side is too worn to decipher (ibid.; Edwards 1983, 28). The high cross is part of a group of crosses identified with the former medieval kingdom of Ossory (Crawford 1909, 256-60; Edwards 1983, 5-46). There is moss on the N and E face of the base of the cross and lichen on the W and S face of the base.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

Richardson, H. and Scarry, J. 1990 An introduction to Irish high crosses. Cork and Dublin. Mercier Press.

Crawford, H.S. 1909 The crosses of Kilkieran and Ahenny. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 39, 256-60.

Edwards, N. 1983 An early group of crosses from the kingdom of Ossory. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 113, 5-46.