Cross

According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 55-6), the market cross at Kells, ‘stood originally on the roadside, opposite the gateway leading to Bosheen na gcorp, that is, the bosheen [local word for boreen] that formerly led from the public road down to the Priory [KK027-029004-] and Priory graveyard. It was removed thence to the south corner of the field in which its pedestal now lies. Later on it was again removed to its present position, which is only a few yards distant from the spot on which it was first set up many centuries ago. The cross itself is missing, and the time and manner of its disappearance are unknown. What is now called “the Cross,” merely consists of a great circular stone, wide and thick, in the centre of which is fixed an ornamental cut-stone pedestal, with a socket cut into the top surface for the reception of the cross’. The circular base (diam. c. 1.5m; H 0.22m), which may be a reused millstone, has a circular socket in the centre into which a circular limestone pedestal (diam. c. 0.66m; H above base 0.31m) has been fitted. The lower portion of this pedestal (H 0.12m) is slightly wider than the upper portion by c. 0.06m. Heather King noted faint traces of arcading on the upper portion, which would be suggestive of a 13th-century date (pers. comm. 1993) (Farrelly et al. 1993, 174). See attached photograph: KK027-029012-_01 Urban Archaeological Survey, 25 September 1992 KK027-029012-_02 Google Street View, imagery date September 2019 Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 10 May 2023

The market cross in Kells was likely built in the 17th or 18th century by a local patron, possibly a member of the O’Carroll family who historically held the area. It is a simple stone cross, typical of the market crosses found in Irish towns, and served as a focal point for trade and community gatherings.