Cross-slab in Inis Gluaire

This record refers to a cross-slab listed for Inishglora in Crawford’s 1913 inventory of early cross-slabs and pillars. It is described as follows: ‘An erect slab carved with a cross of circular arcs, surrounded by two circles and having a spiral design of four centres below.’ (Crawford 1913, 157). This cross-slab has not been found. Strangely, it is not mentioned by any of several antiquarians and archaeologists, such as J. O’Donovan, T. Westropp and F. Henri, who visited and wrote about the monuments on Inishglora at various dates between the late 1830’s to the mid 1900’s. It is possible that it was found in the early 1900’s when Crawford was compiling his inventory and then immediately lost or stolen. Interestingly, the description bears a striking similarity to a cross-slab, found on Inishkea North, which is now in the National Museum of Ireland; this raises the possibility that its attribution to Inishglora was an error and that it in fact refers to a cross-slab on Inishkea North. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 19 November 2021

Probably dates to the early medieval period, likely between the 8th and 11th centuries. The circular-arc cross may have had Christian symbolic significance, possibly associated with monastic or memorial activity on the island.