reask

The oldest surviving artefacts of the Celtic church are the cross-pillars and slabs found at a number of monastic sites throughout the country. They represent the first tentative steps in the development of Irish ecclesiastical art. Unlike the alter ringed crosses which evolved from them, the earliest Christian crosses were simply inscribed on suitable natural stones with no attempt at shaping. Sometimes in situ pagan standing stones were adopted for the purpose.

The Reask cross-pillar is one of several early monuments recently discovered at an ancient enclosure in the west of the Dingle peninsula. It is among the most exquisite of its type and in the few years since it came to light it has attracted widespread attention. The late influence of Celtic La Tene decoration is implicit in the flowing spiral patterns, while the incorporation of the bold intrinsic facets of the stone into the overall design is especially striking, producing a harmony of line and form that is aesthetically very pleasing.