Cross - Market cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Protruding from the base of 1 O’Connell St. on the E, Sarsfield St., side. It originally stood in the market place, roughly the area in front of the Main Guard (TS083-019004-) (Thomas 1992, vol. 2, 53). By tradition it was known as the 'bargain stone' or the 'nail' (Lyons 1954-5, 29). According to Lyons (1936, 288-9), 'This stone, until about forty years ago, occupied a position a few feet further north, at the top of the rise from the river. It is assumed that the cross which the stone must have supported was anciently visible from the port entrance at the Water-Gate. Bargains at fairs had to be closed at this stone, each party placing a foot thereon'. The limestone base (dims. 1.1m x 0.5m; H 0.2m), only three sides of which are visible, has a double chamfer around its edge and an unusual projection (a tapering roll 0.08m x 0.02m)from the base of the lower chamfer on the E side, the lower part of which is covered by the concreted footpath. It seems likely that the complete base would be octagonal in shape. (Farrelly and FitzPatrick 1993, 72).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 11 February 2015

References

Farrelly, J. and FitzPatrick, E. 1993 Urban archaeological survey - county Tipperary (South Riding) (2 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Thomas, A. 1992 The walled towns of Ireland, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

Lyons, P. 1936 Norman antiquities of Clonmel burgh. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 66, 285-94.

Lyons, P. 1954-5 The burgh of Clonmel. Journal of the Clonmel Historical and Archaeological Society, 3, 20-27.