Cross-slab in Illauntannig

National Monument No. 67. Illauntannig is the largest of the Magharee Islands which lie off the N tip of the peninsula that separates Brandon Bay and Tralee Bay. The Early Christian settlement KE019-002001- is enclosed by a strong cashel wall and is comprised of 2 small oratories, 3 bee-hive huts, a Man-made underground passage and wall-chamber, 3 leachts, a burial ground and a stone cross. Three cross-slabs, a bullaun stone, a hand-bell and fragments of 5 quern-stones have also been discovered within the enclosure and a 2nd bullaun stone lies at the edge of the sea about 100m to S. The hut-site, old field walls and reputed cross-inscribed boulder on Reennafardarrig may also be related to this early settlement. Cross-Slabs: The cross-slabs have now been placed in the main oratory for safe-keeping and their original location is not known. (2) (KE019-002017-) This slab measures .54m x .44m x .04m thick and a cross within a circle is carved on both faces. On one face the stem of the cross extends beyond the circle and terminates with an irregular expansion; the arms also extend very slightly beyond the circle. The cross on the other face is very faint but the stem also extends beyond the circle. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 843. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

Dated to the Early Christian period, the cross-slab in Illauntannig likely served a religious or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in western Ireland. Such stones often bore Christian symbols and were associated with monastic sites or burial grounds.