Cross-inscribed pillar in Inishmurray

This cross-inscribed pillar stands immediately outside the SW side of an enclosure (SL001-002002-), which contains Templenaman church (SL001-002001-) and a graveyard (SL001-002007-). Pillar (H: <1.45 m, W: 0.29 m, Th: 0.11 m). W face has incised cross (0.52 m by 0.23 m) the lower arms of which terminate in wide triangular serifs while the serif of the upper arm terminates in three points separated by cusps. Beneath the lower arm the shaft extends a further 0.175 m before terminating with a triangular serif. In each of the lower quadrants is a small hole that links with a larger, vertically oriented oblong hole in each of the narrow sides (0.11 m by 0.06 m by 0.07 m). There is another small hole on the upper surface of the pillar. Below the cross on the W face are remnants of an inscription on two or possibly three vertical lines (0.69 m by 0.21 m). There appears to have been another shorter vertical inscription low down on the north side. High on the east face is an equal armed incised cross (0.195 m by 0.017 m) with wide triangular serifs. The holes in the narrow sides probably held wooden arms secured with nails driven through the smaller holes in the W face. This is a National Monument (no. 117) in state ownership. The above description is derived from the results of a survey of the archaeological monuments on Inishmurray undertaken in 1997-1999 and published in: Jerry O’Sullivan and Tomás Ó Carragáin 2008 Inishmurrary. Monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. Cork. The Collins Press. Date of upload: 16 January 2018

This cross-inscribed pillar likely dates to the early Christian period (5th–10th century AD) and may have functioned as a memorial or waymark. The cross suggests a Christian association, possibly linked to the nearby church and graveyard.