What is recorded here

Half a foot of snake and circle still breathes inside Rosenallis, having left Rearymore church to wait in the sacristy. The small slab carries double zig-zag, lozenges and a three-fold circle, while another nearby slab seems to hold a face. They are not grand, but they are exact: early Christian hands marked stone, moved it, and kept it alive through forgetting.

Three Early Christian cross-slabs (LA003-025/001/002-) decorated with incised and false relief geometrical designs. One slab has face-like features. Originally located in Rearymore church (LA003:003001-). Now in the sacristy of the R.C. church in Rosenallis. Described as slab 1 by Leask in 1938 as a 'Slab 2 ft. by 6 ins. By 1 ft. 4 ins. The designs are a double zig-zag broder on longsides; snake pattern at top, three-fold concentric circle; triple median line; lozenges to left of same zig-zag to right, and two single border lines' (Leask 1938, 109). (LA003-003003-) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Dated to the Early Christian period, likely 7th to 9th century AD, the cross-slab originally served a liturgical or commemorative function within a monastic or ecclesiastical setting. The presence of face-like features may indicate a symbolic or narrative element, possibly linked to early Christian iconography or local folklore.

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