Cross-slab in Lemanaghan

A monastery at Lemanaghan (Liath Manchán) was founded in the 7th century by Manchán whose feastday is celebrated on the 24th of January (Ó Riain 2011, 429). Early Christian cross-inscribed slab currently located inside the disused Lemanaghan schoolhouse. A sixth/seventh century date for this slab was suggested by Kelly who described the stone in 1988 as following; 'Lemanaghan 1: sub-rectangular slab, maximum dimensions 35 by 31.5cm and up to 8cm thick, with design of an encircled cross carved in false relief. The cross, surrounded by a single circle 29cm in maximum diameter, is roughly equal-armed, 22 by 23cm, with parallel-sided arms, the angles at the crossing slightly curved. A shallow circular depression has been worked at the heart of the cross. The quadrants left in relief by the cutting of the cross and the inner line of the circle have been similarly ornamented with shallow circular depressions, three in the top left-hand and two lower quadrants, four in the top right-hand quadrant' (Kelly 1988, 93). Compiled and revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 17 August 2018

Early Christian period, likely 7th to 9th century; the cross-slab may have served a liturgical or commemorative function within the monastery associated with Saint Manchán. Crosses of this type often symbolized Christian faith and were sometimes linked to local saints in folklore and devotion.