Cross-slab in Loughaun

Described by Lionard as 'Another Tihilly slab now lost, had interlace in the expansions' (Lionard 1961, 113). Not visible at ground level. The precise location of this cross-slab is unknown. One of a group of three cross-slabs (OF008-045004/008-) that were located on the early Christian monastery of Tihilly (OF008-045001-) (Crawford 1913, 263). Macalister recorded the state of the stone as Williams had found it: `It was broken into several pieces, of which the top fragment could not be found in 1897'. He was unable to find the stone himself, when visiting it in January, 1943 (Macalister 1949, 42). Rfragmentary traces of an inscription were recorded from the slab which read --]INND[-- (Macalister 1949, 42). Described by Crawford as a ' slab in which the centre and extremities of the cross are filled by interlaced knots. A defaces inscription runs across the upper part. The slab is broken into three pieces, and the top is missing' (Crawford 1913, 263). Slab (b) in Crawfords catalogue of cross-slabs from Tihilly. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Likely dating to the early medieval period, the cross-slab may have had Christian symbolic or ritual significance, given the mention of interlace design, commonly associated with Insular art. Its connection to the Tihilly slab group suggests a regional tradition of carved stone monuments.