Cross-inscribed stone in Inishmurray

Located on top of a leacht (Sl001-001013-), in association with cross-carved cobbles, known as the ‘cursing stones’ or ‘clocha breacha’(SL001-001015-). Cross-inscribed upright oblong block with tapering stem (H: 0.595 m, W: 0.255>0.07 m, Th: 0.125 m) and a hollow 0.11 m in diameter in its upper surface. A stone disc with a diameter of 0.24 m has a hemispherical projection on the underside that is fitted into this hollow. The south face is filled with an incised shafted cross (c.0.27 m by 0.2 m) with a lozenge-shaped expansion at the crossing, whose upper arms terminate in large concave-sided squares. Each of the upper quadrants is decorated with a diagonally disposed cross, while each of the lower quadrants is decorated with a vertically-disposed cross with cusped serif terminals whose lower arms turn inwards at their base, apparently to join the shaft of the principal cross. At the base of the lower left quadrant is a linear stepped border. Each of the narrow sides is filled with an incised shafted cross (0.19 m by 0.1 m) with cusped serif terminals and a false-relief hollowed boss at the crossing. 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

Probably dating to the early Christian period (5th–9th century), the stone likely served a religious or commemorative function. Its association with "cursing stones" suggests it may have been used in ritual or protective contexts, possibly linked to local folklore or legal traditions.