Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 47) as following; 'There are the remains of two crosses (WM027-066003-) on the site of the old monastery of Clonfad. The head and part of the shaft of a sandstone cross, 1.47m high and 1.02m across the arms. The shaft has a maximum thickness of 26cm. The north arm, which is broken, has been re-attached in modern times, and the south arm shows that the cross had a ring. There is a roll moulding around the edges, and a narrower raised rib inside it. The top of the cross is not symmetrical, and the triangular cap sits so easily upon it that it may not have belonged to the cross originally. The cross stands on a base which measures about 95cms by 85cms'.
This high cross stands in the S quadrant of a graveyard (WM027-066001-). The site of Clonfad monastery (WM027-067001-) is marked on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map 235m to the NE. However the graveyard (WM027-066001-) may be located on the site of the monastery rather than in the area marked on the OS 6-inch map.

Date of upload: 3 December 2009

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

References

Harbison, P. 1992 The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy. Bonn. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH.