crosses historical ireland

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...

A number of wells rise up at this eerie spot where one could imagine that people in times past could have wondered at the primeval power of nature. St. Patrick is said to have visited the place, and the water is said to cure 'sore lips, sore eyes, the scrofula and several other chronic diseases'.

In the middle of a pond is an early cross, and beside it is a church which was built on the site of a 12th century edifice, but which in its present mutilated form dates probably from the 16...

In the garden of Castle Bernard, nearly a mile east of Kinnitty, is a High Cross with a David scene and the Crucifixion on the east face, and Adam and Eve, intertwined birds, interlacing and other geometric motifs on the west face. Important inscriptions at the bottom of both faces of the shaft indicate that the cross was erected by Colman for Maelsechnaill, High King of Ireland from 846 to 862. The south wall of the courtyard behind the castle formed part of a 15th century church, of which so...

Typical of the late 13th century, the castle is nearly square in plan, with rectangular towers at the two southern corners, and smaller turrets at the other two corners. Remains of the main interior buildings can be seen on the eastern side of the courtyard. While the castle is not mentioned in existing records until the 14th century, the shape of the trefoil window in the south wall shows that it was built probably towards the end of the 13th century. Clonmore was captured by the Earl of Kil...

West from Christ Church runs the ancient High Street of Dublin.

Here was situated the High Cross of the old Norman city from which government decrees, papal bulls and decrees of excommunication were read....

Celtic Heritage, Holy places, ancient rituals, old myths and legends, early Celtic Church. Tours and lectures with recognized scholars on Celtic Heritage, myths and stories with the storytellers Niall de Burca or Liz Weir....

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...

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...

From the old monastery there remain a small undecorated T-shaped cross which is 7 feet high, a Round Tower - 57 feet high, built of rounded beach stones and with a round-headed doorway, as well as scanty remains of two churches....

St. Alban founded the first monastery here around 650, but the site is named after his successor, St. Beccan. A 12th century Romanesque church has a flat-headed doorway, and two unusual decorated windows.

A number of crosses and Early Christian cross-slabs are either standing free around the church or have been built into its interior or exterior walls....