What is recorded here

Clear water flowed through Durrow before the first stone was cut, feeding the monastery that Colum Cille is said to have founded. The cross-slab rose twice as tall as a person, its sandstone marked with interlace and circular bosses that still catch light like a hidden language. It stood in the graveyard, then moved beneath the church window, carrying the patience of that water into every room it touches.

National Monument No. 313. A sixth century monastery was founded at Durrow reputedly by Colum Cille [of the church] who died in 597 and whose feastday is celebrated on the 9th of June (Ó Riain 2011, 213-14). Early Christian cross-inscribed slab (H 2.04m; Wth 1.49m; T 0.14m) that was built up against the E face of the W wall of Durrow graveyard (OF009-005009-). This cross-slab has been moved into the C of I church (OF009-005013-) where it has been placed on the surface of the church beneath the E window. The church has been recently conserved by the OPW and now houses the Durrow high cross (OF009-005010-) and some of the cross-slabs (OF009-005015-/020-) that were located in the surrounding graveyard (OF009-005009-). Roughly rectangular-shaped sandstone slab decorated with incised cross with central circular boss filled with a decorative motif, the circular shaped terminals of the cross contain various decorative motifs while the incised shaft of the cross is decorated with interlace patterns The incised cross with central circular boss and four circular terminals are contained within an incised rectangular shaped border decorated with interlace patterns. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 April 2014

Probably early Christian period, associated with the monastery founded by St. Colum Cille; the cross-slab may have served a liturgical or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region.

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