What is recorded here

A small granite cross-slab, built into the ceiling of St Patrick’s Cathedral, still shows a shallow cross inside a double circle. It is not on display like a treasure; it is hidden overhead in the Monks’ Walk, where people pass beneath without knowing they are walking over an old grave marker. The idea is not that the church stole it, but that it has become part of the church: a buried thing pulled up into the structure, visible only when someone looks upward.

One of six cross-slabs (DU018-278-/283-) now located inside St Patrick’s Cathedral (DU018-020269-). Granite cross-slab (exposed L 0.46m x Wth 0.37m) built into the ceiling of the triforium passage above the central pier on the S side of the choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral (DU018-020269-). Thomas Drew (1901, 296) described the location of this slab in 1901 as follows; ‘The ceiling of the triforium passage, familiarly known as the "Monks' Walk," which bonds an inner to an outside wall, is formed of great flagstones. Three of these have been observed to be ancient granite tombstones, with raised crosses cut on them, identical in character with the St. Patrick's Well stone [DU018-282----]’. The decoration consists of a shallow recessed cross in a double incised circle. There are also small subtriangular recessed areas in each quadrant (Ó hÉailidhe 1973, 61-2; Swords 2009, No. 8, 77). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Likely dating to the early medieval period (7th–10th century), this cross-slab may have originally served as a high-status Christian monument or boundary marker. Its relocation into the cathedral suggests later repurposing, though its original meaning or folklore remains unrecorded.

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