crosses historical ireland

A tall granite cross in a square base.
The south part of the ring and arm are missing, but a simple representation of the Crucifixion may be seen on both faces (12th Century)....

A granite Cross, semi-celtic in style, St. Kevin's Cross stands between the Priest's House and Cathedral. Its position, central to the east wall of the ancient cemetery, suggests it may have been a boundary cross. It dates to the late sixth or early seventh century. An old custom surrounds the Cross, and it is said that anyone who succeeds in encircling their arms around the shaft will have their wish granted....

The various surviving parts of a 9th or 10th century granite High Cross from the monastery founded by St. Colman in the 6th or 7th century were re-erected by the Dromore Historical Society in the Cathedral grounds beside the bridge over the River Lagan in 1887. The base has an unusual 'cushioned' form, and into it fits a part of the shaft which bears sunken panels with fretwork designs (some badly worn) framed by interlace panels. The upper part of the shaft is modern, and it bears the head of...

Granite, the type of stone which predominates in the valley doesn't lend itself well to ornamentation, it being much too hard. Consequently, the intricate designs and exquisite carvings which are to be found on memorials elsewhere (notably Clonmacnoise) are less notable in Glendalough. Nevertheless, the abundance of memorials which have been discovered are of great antiquity. Found both within the various churches and along the roadsides, many are commemorative rather than sepulchral. Apart...

the church is alleged to have been founded by St. Patrick, but it is more likely that it was his disciple Lughaidh (died 515-16) who founded the monastery. St. Ronan, who cursed Suibhne Geilt and caused him to go mad, was abbot here and died of the great plague in 664. The High King, Aedh Finnlaigh, died here in 876. The monastery was plundered by the Irish in 908, by the Danes in 978 and again by the Irish in 1043. The Round Tower and a High Cross still survive from the old monastery. The...

A granite cross set in a square base. The cross is tall and thin, and the arms are proportionately wide in relation to the small unpierced ring. Tradition says that it had another pair of arms! Although called St. Mark's Cross, it was known as St. Baoithin's Cross in the 19th century. It originally stood some distance away at Burgage, but was moved to its present site when it was in danger of being submerged while the Liffey valley nearby was being flooded for a hydroelectric scheme around 194...

St. Kevin: The Valley seems to have been deserted for centuries before Kevin arrived, initially as a hermit, in the sixth century. Born of Royal blood in 498 AD, his father Coemlug was a descendant of Cu-Corb, King of Leinster. His education commenced at an early age under St. Petroc of Cornwall and further studies followed under the guidance of St. Eugenius at Kilnamanagh, County Dublin. However, when it was suggested that Kevin should take charge of the monastery there, he fled, dreading...

Durrow High Cross Durrow High Cross belonged to a monastery founded by St. Columba in 553, made possible by the generosity of Aedh, son of the local Prince Brendan. The monastery was plundered and burned a number of times. There is no trace left of the Monastery, but in the churchyard is a holy well and a High Cross - a 9th century relic which shows on one face: the rising of Christ, the sacrifice of Isaac and Christ with David and his harp and Christ with David killing a lion on the right. Th...

On the east side of the road is a tall cross with Christ and an angel cut in low relief on one face. On the west side of the road is a tall and narrow cross with only stumps of arms, and there is a stone pillar with an incised ring-cross and a zigzag motif....

The High Cross in the field is one of the most satisfying of the earliest carved Irish Crosses, the interpretation of the symbols still exciting scholars. The worn stone carvings include St. Anthony and St. Paul in the desert; the Temptation of St. Anthony; Jacob and the Angel; a figure flanked by two horsemen and a hunting scene. Strong traditions holds this to be the burial place of Niall Caille MacAeda, High King of Ireland, who died in 846 A.D. The early church was reconstructed in the Mid...