crosses historical meath

A 16th century wayside cross with the inscription ORATE-P--AIA JOHANIS BROIN (Pray for the Soul of John Broin). On the east face is a representation of the Pieta while on the west face there is a Crucifixion and Gothic decoration; the north face bears geometric designs and a head, and there is another head at the end of the south arm. The cross was presumably re-erected in 1727, as the following inscription which was added later suggests 'Sr Andrew Aylmer of Mountaylemer Bart and his Lady Cathe...

St. Patrick placed St. Cianan over the first church here in the 5th century. St. Cianan, who is credited with the building of the first stone church in Ireland, died in 489 and his body was said to have been preserved without decay. The monastery was plundered at least 10 times between 830 and 1149. The bodies of King Brian Boru and the other heroes slain at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 rested here for a night before being brought to Armagh for burial. Duleek became the centre of a diocese...

The monastery at Kells would appear to have been first founded in 804 by monks from St. Colmcille's foundation at Iona who were fleeing from the Viking invasions and seeking a safer place for their treasures. In 877 reliquaries of the saint were transferred to Kells. The monastery was raided by the Vikings in 919, 950 and 969.

The greatest treasure of the monastery - the Book of Kells, now in Trinity College, Dublin - which had possibly been written here in the early 9th century, wa...