What is recorded here

Inishcaltra is a small Clare island where St Caimin’s church still stands beside old cross-slab markings. One slab carries the name Dolaith, written upside down above a hollow-angled cross, as if someone wanted the name hidden in plain sight. The island may have been a place of learning, prayer or experiment, but its smaller facts still point to people living there with confidence.

Mounted against the S wall of the nave of St. Caimin’s church (CL029-009011-) on Inis Cealtra and 6.62m from the E end. A cross-slab (L 1.19m; Wth 0.42m; T 0.16m) noted by Macalister (1916-17, 156, no. 52) as of ‘twelfth-century type’ with a Latin cross with hollowed angles and an expanding base. An inscription in two horizontal lines above the top of the cross and upside down with respect to it reads ‘OR DOLAITH BERTACH’. The same name occurs on another cross-slab (CL029-009198-) in St. Caimin’s church. (Okasha and Forsyth 2001, 69-71) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 22 October 2015

A cross-slab likely dating to the 12th century, associated with early Christian worship on Inishcaltra (Holy Island), reflecting the island's historical role as a monastic and pilgrimage site.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.