Cross-slab (present location) in Raheen (athenry By.)

This cross-slab, recorded by Bigger (1900, 72, 85) as standing between 'Templedermot' (LF021-048002-) and 'Templemore' (LF021-048004-) on Inchcleraun Island, Co. Longford (see LF021-048005- for original location), is now in the care of the OPW (Athenry depot, Co. Galway). It is a round-topped, subrectangular pillar of grey limestone (H 0.74m; max. dims. 0.34m x 0.14m) with an incised cross carved on both faces. On one face is a well-defined, incised, single-lined Latin cross contained within a single-lined incised cross with stepped angles at the junctions of the arms and rectangular shaped terminals. The remains of an incised single-line border can be seen enclosing the shaft of the cross. Just below the head of the cross this border appears to turn into a possible spiral pattern resembling the head of the crosier. On either side of the cross head there is an incised circle carved in an area between the arms of the cross. On the other face of the slab there is a single-line Latin cross with rounded angles at the junctions of the arms with the faintest suggestion that this may have been an incised ringed-headed cross with thistle or bell-shaped quadrants. (Macalister 1949, Vol. 2, 29; English 1971, 148; Ciuchini 2010, Stone A, 90-91, 101, fig. 3-4) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 June 2012

This cross-slab is likely medieval in date, associated with early Christian worship or commemoration. It may have originally marked a holy site or served as a ecclesiastical boundary marker, reflecting the religious landscape of the region.