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Cross-slab in Ballynakill

Cross-slab

What is recorded here

The largest of five early medieval cross-slabs in Ballynakill, it stands twelve centimetres thick and bears a ringed cross decorated with rosettes. Its inscription names Aeirechtane, preserving a forgotten life beneath stone. The slab was later attached to a display feature built on the church gable line, moving from burial or worship into public memory.
One of five early medieval cross-slabs (LF013-045004-, LF013-045010-, LF013-045011-, LF013-045013) attached to the W face of a display feature that has been constructed on the line of the E gable of a church (LF013-045002-). This cross-slab (H 1.22m; Wth 0.62m; T 0.12m) is the largest of the series. It bears an incised ringed cross with decorated expanded terminals in false relief. The ring is decorated with rosette ornamentation. The inscription reads ‘OR DO AEIRECHTANE’ (Macalister 1949, vol. 2, 195). Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan, Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 6 June 2013
Early medieval cross-slabs like that in Ballynakill were typically carved between the 7th and 11th centuries and often served as Christian memorials or preaching aids. Their intricate designs, including crosses and interlaced patterns, reflect the fusion of Insular and continental artistic traditions of the period.

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What survives
Recorded monument

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