Cross - Wayside cross (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Bradley (1985, 78) this cross-head is pre-twelfth century in date, however it is possible that this cross-head may be one of the several wayside crosses at Fore dating from the seventeenth century (Crawford 1928, 57). The cross-head has been set onto a corbel in the E wall of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). Small disc-headed cross (dims. H 0.4m; Wth 0.38m; T 0.08m) with chamfered edges. Decorated in false relief with a lop-sided marigold design (Bradley et. al. 1985, 78). This may be the cross fragment No.9 (WM004-010----) drawn by Du Noyer in the 19th century and recorded by Crawford in 1928 (Crawford 1928, 59, no. 9). Crawford described the cross which was then located in the townland of Clonnageeragh as consisting of a 'portion of the head of a small cross with solid ring or disc, also a flat socket stone 2ft. square. When Du Noyer made his drawings this cross head was in better preservation than at present; he shows it with a six rayed cross or star in a circle on one side; on the other are the remains of a sunk trefoil pattern' (Crawford 1928, 59). This cross was drawn by George Du Noyer in 1864, the drawing is now accessible on the website of the Royal Irish Academy (George Victor Du Noyer, “Calvary cross on road side North of Fore Abbey Td. Of Clonageeragh. Sheet 4/3,” Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, accessed January 27, 2020, http://rsai.locloudhosting.net/items/show/23407).

See attached drawing of cross taken from Crawford 1928.

Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 21 November 2013

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Crawford, H. S. 1928 List of the Wayside Crosses near Fore, County Westmeath. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 58, 57-62.