Inscribed slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Part of exhibition display, Visitor Centre (30 August 2005). Described by Leask (1950, 43) as a ‘granite, slightly tapered, broken in two and much weathered, 7 feet 3 inches [2.2m] long by 3 feet 3 inches [1m] wide at the head and 2 feet 10 inches [0.86m] at the foot. Within a single-line frame is a cross formed of an endless band which forms triquetras at the ends of the arms and—at the head and base—knots which are derived from the triquetras by the addition of an extra loop. The central expansion is circular, filled with a pattern of four simple knots on a single band. In the two upper spaces are circles containing Greek crosses, one with curved the other with angular expansions at the centre and 'extremities. The lower spaces contain two inscriptions: "Or do Maccois", and "Or do Diarmait"; "a prayer for Mac Cois", " a prayer for Diarmait". The two persons commemorated on one slab (an unusual circumstance in itself) have not been identified’.

See attached screenshots of 3D model of inscribed slab created by The Discovery Programme. 3D model can be accessed at the following website: https://skfb.ly/ALLu

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 19 December 2012

See linked document with drawing of slab taken from Robert Cochrane Historical and Descriptive Notes with Ground Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Ecclesiastical Remains at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. Extract from the Eightieth Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland 1911-12. Dublin, 1925.

References

Leask, H.G. 1950 Glendalough, Co. Wicklow: national monuments vested in the Commissioners of Public Works. Dublin. Stationery Office.