What is recorded here

Three broken crosses still lie scattered across Cruach na Cara, their ringed heads and carved shafts waiting to be imagined as one. They belonged to the island church where Macdara’s name still sounds, and their fragments suggest a place proud enough to carve stone for everyone to see. The crosses may have marked worship, warning or wonder, but their survival means the island refused to forget the hands that shaped them.

Associated with the ecclesiastical remains on Cruach na Cara/St Macdara’s Island. In Bigger's (1896, 110-11) account of the island, he notes the presence of a number of high cross fragments . At least three separate crosses appear to be present: (a, GA076-022018-) 'several portions of [a ringed] cross...found upon the altar [see GA076-020006- to the south of the church]... Its height is 78 inches [1.98m] by 10 inches [0.25m] across the shaft'; (b, GA076-020024-) 'The head of another fine cross in two pieces...in the fence close to the church; it has been a fine Celtic cross having a circle with openings and arms. Its greatest breadth is 28.5 inches [0.72m], and its height 21 inches [0.53m]'; (c, GA076-020025-) 'Fragments of other crosses... some of them beautifully carved with rich opus hibernicum'. No visible surface trace of any of these crosses were found, though the socket/base (GA076-020016-) of a cross noted by Kinahan (1868b, 90) and Bigger (1896, 109) near the altar (see GA076-020009-) to the NE of the church (GA076-020001-) still survives. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 164; vol. 2, figs. 551-3) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 6 June 2018

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