Cross-slab in Cloontuskert

The early church that became an Augustinian abbey (RO037-001001-) is situated on low-lying ground at the S end of graveyard (RO037-001002-). At least eighteen stones with inscribed crosses have been recorded up to 2008, but some of these are missing. Five have been recorded by Fanning and O'hEailidhe (1980, 10, 13-15), one of which is now missing. Two others were recorded by Siggins (1988, 56-7) and six other simpler cross-inscribed stones were described by Herity (et al. 1997, 116-7). Other stones have since come to light, and most of the displayed stones are set in the walls of a rectangular enclosure with an altar at the W edge of the graveyard. In all six cross-slabs and eleven other cross-inscribed stones have been recorded in this display. There are also numerous architectural fragments (RO037-001017-) from a high medieval church on display here and in the church ruin as well as decorative pieces from an earlier structure. Most of the decorated stones were recovered from the graveyard in a clean-up c. 1990, at which time others were displayed around a style in the graveyard wall at N. These have been identified recently by Gary Dempsey, and amongst the dressed stones he has recorded are portions of four cross-slabs and five cross-inscribed stones. Set into the inner face of the wall of Cloontuskert graveyard (RO037-001002-) at N, and first recorded by Gary Dempsey. This is a stone fragment (dims 0.18m x 0.14m) with portion of a Maltese cross incised within a circle. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 July, 2015

Dateable to the early medieval period, likely between the 8th and 12th centuries, the cross-slab reflects the spread of Christianity in the region and may have served as a grave marker or waymarker. Such stones often carried both religious significance and a role in local monastic or ecclesiastical traditions.