Cross-slab in Coolbanagher

The early Christian monastery of Coolbanagher is associated with Saint Lughach son of Lughaidh whose feastday occurred on the 6th of October (Ó Riain 2011, 407-8). This saint is also associated with Banagher Church, Co. Fermanagh, Rattoo, Co. Kerry and Toomour, Co. Sligo (Ibid., 407). The twelfth century preface to the Martyrology of Tallaght allegedly records that in the ninth century Saint Aonghas of Tallaght went to Coolbanagher where he began the writing of the Martyrology which he completed in the monastery of Tallaght, Co. Dublin (Ibid., 79). The Early Christian church at Coolbanagher was also associated with Saint Sinche the ‘daughter of Annudh, of Cuil Bennchuir’ whose feastday was held on the 22nd of August (Fitzgerald 1904, 300). A roughly rectangular sandstone slab ( 0.61m x 0.30m; T 0.08m) with an incised 'Greek cross' (0.19m x 0.19m) with T-shaped terminals now on display attached to inner face of N wall of chancel off centre to E near NE angle of Coolbanagher Church (LA008-014001-). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 February 2014

Dateable to the early Christian period, likely 7th to 9th century, the cross-slab may have served a liturgical or commemorative function within the monastery's religious landscape, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region. It is associated with Saint Lughach, a local patron linked to spiritual and communal identity.