Cross in Cool West

A stone cross and two uninscribed pillar stones are located on a slight rise close to the E edge of the bog-covered Emlagh Basin, at the NW end of Valencia Island. The site, not marked on the OS maps, affords extensive views of the Atlantic and of the Blasket Islands to NW. Delap recorded that they were only recently 'raised to their present position' (1911, 410), and they stood in a roughly N-S line when seen by Westropp (1912, 301). The pillar stones now lie prostrate, adjacent to the upright stone cross. The stone cross (KE087-004001-) measures 1.64m long. Its lower shaft is .35m wide, while its upper end tapers gently to a straight-edged top. The angles, where the shaft and arms meet, are slightly hollowed. The short rectangular arms extend to a maximum width of .53m. Each face is ornamented by a diagonally disposed linear cross, the upper and lower angles of which are closed. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 941. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013