What is recorded here

St. Kieran the elder founded Churchland in the fifth century, leaving behind a cross-slab that still bears the inscription OROIT DO CHERBALL. The irregular sandstone measures 1.68 metres long and shows a six-line cross with circular expansions at its centre and ends. A replica now lies in the graveyard where the original stood, while the ancient slab rests inside the church, preserving the shape of that early Christian prayer.

Founded by St. Kieran the elder in the fifth century (ITA Survey 1943). Early Christian cross-slab (dims. 1.68m x 0.66m x 0.1m) described by Crawford as 'a slab of irregular shape , incised with a six-line cross, having the centre a circle, and the ends three-quarter circles. At the sinister sides are the traces of an inscription 'or do cherball'' (Crawford 1913, 265; Carwford 1916, 166). Now housed inside the C of I church, with a replica lying in the graveyard where the original was located. Described by Macalister as `Among four ancient tombstones lying on this historically important site there is one of sandstone, recumbent west of the church, a Latin seven-line cross with a circular expansion at the centre and fantastically varied expansions at the terminals' (Macalister 1949, 39). The inscription reads O~R~DOCHERBALL which can be expanded to OROIT DO CHERBALL (Macalister 1949, 39). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Probably dating to the early Christian period (6th–9th century), the cross-slab likely served a liturgical or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region and the influence of monastic foundations such as that of St. Kieran. Its six-line cross design is characteristic of Insular Christian art and may have been associated with local religious practices or a burial site.

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