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...

Outside the graveyard is a slender cross, ten feet high, in a rectangular stone base. As well as the normal perforations, the cross has a hole in the 'head' of the cross.

In the graveyard are the remains of churches, and a small building called 'The Skull House', which is probably a tome-shrine....

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...

The cross was originally found at Bealin but it has been removed to its present site in Twyford Demesne. On the east face are three animals above one another with bird-like heads, and a lion at the bottom. On the north face is a horseman with a staff, and above him a dog bites a deer's leg. There are also interlacing and geometric patterns on the cross. On the bottom of the west side there is an inscription to the effect that the cross was erected by one Tuathgail. The cross may date from a...

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...

The main item of interest is a stone cross having the features of a Celtic cross inscribed on one face of its imperforate ring, while the other face bears a boss. The cross may never have been finished. Built into the interior north wall of the dilapidated medieval church close by is the replica of a medieval effigy of an apparently male figure whose head, made of a different material and now lost, was sunk into its surface; it may have represented the local saint rather than having been a tom...

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...

Castle: This is a 15th or 16th century tower-house of 3 storeys, and with good trefoil headed windows. Its most unusual feature is the excellent corbelled roof (in the same technique as the Newgrange chamber roof, 4,000 years older!) which is on the third storey. The famous antiquarian Ussher lived nearby for some time. It was repaired by Captain Brabazon in 1641. A bawn with rounded turret which belonged to the castle has disappeared. High Cross: In the graveyard of St. Fechin's Church...

The modern road cuts through a monastery founded by St Cronan who died between 600 and 620....

Founded by St. Doulagh, who lived around 600. The old church is entered through that part of the church now used for Divine Service which was built in 1864.

The east end of the church, dating from the mid-12th century, is vaulted, above which is an attic room whose walls also serve to prevent the steep-pitched stone roof from caving inwards.

The remainder of the church is of 15th century date. At its centre is a room called 'The Hermit's Cell' which is reputed to be the burial...