crosses historical ireland

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...

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...

The Churches:
The modern road runs through the area comprising the old monastery founded by the King of Leinster for St. Meadhog in the 6th century, and which was plundered by the Vikings in 930. In 1152 the ill-starred Dermot MacMurrough Kavanagh founded an Abbey, but it was burned down two years later. He rebuilt it in 1160 and handed it over to the Augustinians. Portions of this church still survive; they are the ruins furthermost from the road and can be recognised by the cha...

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....