Kilkieran High Crosses

Kilkieran High Crosses are a group of high crosses which form a National Monument in County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1]

Kilkieran High Crosses
Native name
Irish: Ardchrosa Chill Chiaráin
West cross
TypeHigh crosses
LocationCastletown, Skough, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Coordinates52.397809°N 7.380761°W / 52.397809; -7.380761
AreaLingaun Valley
Built9th century AD
Official nameKilkieran High Crosses
Reference no.79
Kilkieran High Crosses is located in Ireland
Kilkieran High Crosses
Location of Kilkieran High Crosses in Ireland

Location

Kilkieran High Crosses are located on the grounds of the former monastery, about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Ahenny.

History

Kilkieran was formerly a monastery dedicated to Ciarán of Saighir.[2] The high crosses at Kilkieran were erected in the 9th century, and form part of the West Ossory group, including the Killamery High Cross, Ahenny and Kilree. Local legend claims that the tall North Cross was once destroyed in an act of iconoclasm, but was painstakingly reconstructed in the mid-19th century by blind local stonemason Paddy Laurence, who had lost his sight while working on the Palace of Westminster in London.

Crosses

The crosses are made of sandstone; there are three of them and the fragments of a fourth.[3]

West Cross

The west (decorated) cross is 3.55 metres (11.6 ft) high with a conical cap and is similar to those at Ahenny. Carvings include eight horsemen, chrysanthemums, Celtic interlace and a mitre-like crown.[4]

North Cross

The North (Tall) Cross is 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall and is unusually shaped: tall and slender, with short arms and no ring and a circular base, with hatched mouldings on the west face.[5]

Plain Cross

The Plain (East) Cross is 2.8 metres (9.2 ft) tall and undecorated, except for mouldings and a central boss that mimic metalwork, and a heavy mitre-like crown.[6][7]

Other artefacts
The holy water font was locally held to cure headaches.

A phallic-shaped standing stone is near the wall, near St. Ciarán's holy well, which is near a bullaun and a holy water font.[8][9]

References
  1. "megalithomania: Kilkieran (Kilkenny) :: High Cross :: Visit notes". Megalithomania.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. Rees, Elizabeth (1 May 2013). Celtic Saints of Ireland. History Press. ISBN 9780752492919 – via Google Books.
  3. Richardson, Hilary; Scarry, John (1 January 1990). An introduction to Irish high crosses. Mercier Press. ISBN 9780853429418 – via Google Books.
  4. Williams, Maggie M. (9 November 2012). Icons of Irishness from the Middle Ages to the Modern World. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9780230103207 – via Google Books.
  5. Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of (1 January 1985). "The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". The Society – via Google Books.
  6. "Kilkieran High Cross - Attractions - Churches, Abbeys and Monasteries". Discoverireland.ie.
  7. "High Cross Kilkieran". Megalithicireland.com.
  8. Schorr, Frank. "Kilkerian High Crosses". Highcrosses.org.
  9. "Kilkieran High Crosses in Knockglass, Co. Kilkenny - Map, Locate, Directions, Contact". Mypois.ie.
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