Carn of the Three Crosses

On top of a natural esker ridge running NE-SW in undulating countryside. Marked as the 'Carn of the Three Crosses' this is the site of a square shaped flat topped cairn (H 0.5m; 3.6m E-W; 3.2m N-S ) delimited by a series of upright kerb stones set on edge. There are 3 wooden crosses inserted on the top of the cairn. An Early Christian grave-slab with inscription which reads 'Oroit ar Thurcain lasandernad in chrossa' was found at the base of this cairn in the early 1900'3 (OPW 1906-7). There are two broken ringed crosses of 19th-century date in the cairn material. The esker is the Pilgrims Road used in early Christian times as a Roadway to Clonmacnoise and connects the Nun's Chapel (OF005-029001-) to the Cathedral (OF005-004001-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Square-shaped flat-topped cairn, likely dating to the Early Christian period. Its association with Clonmacnoise, a major monastic site, suggests possible ritual or commemorative significance in a religious or territorial context.