Cross-inscribed stone (present location) in Adare

Recumbent decorated stone surrounded by ogham stones (LI021-034002/-004-) in a plantation of cedar trees on the demesne of Adare Manor. The cedar trees were planted in 1812 by the Dowager Lady Dunraven when she first arrived to Adare (Dunraven 1865, 158). Surface of stone decorated with an incised cross and other motifs taken from close to a ringfort in Ballydavid, Co. Kerry, (possibly KE033-005---) which is located south of the village of Ballydavid. Toberkieran (KE033-007---) is located close to this fort. Dunraven (1865, 154-5) recorded that the stone ‘was found near an old fort, in the vicinity of Ballydavid, about the year 1816, and was dug out of the ground from a depth of 4 ft. [1.2m] below the surface and afterwards built into a ditch by the man who found it, but not shewn to anyone, as he considered its possession an omen of good luck. This account was received from Kennedy, a respectable Coastguard man stationed at Ballydavid. It is 3 ft. 6 in. [1.06m] in length, and 2 ft. 8 in. [0.81m] in breadth’. Cross-reference with KE033-005001-. See attached drawing of stone taken from Dunraven Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details kindly provided by Finola Finlay and Robert Harris Date of upload: 15 January 2019

Likely dating to the early Christian period (5th–9th centuries), the cross-inscribed stone may have served as a Christian memorial or waymarker, while the surrounding ogham stones suggest an earlier, probably 5th-century, Celtic tradition of inscription. The site may reflect a transition from pagan to Christian practice in the region.