What is recorded here

Monumental Pillar stands two metres tall inside an early ecclesiastical enclosure in County Cork, carrying carved scenes of St Paul and St Anthony sharing bread while a boat rows through a sea of crosses. The stone likely wore a lost top piece, since two small holes mark where another element once attached. It remains a vivid fragment of forgotten ritual, preserving the shape of devotion long after the hands that made it disappeared.

Upright stone (H 2.05m; 0.26m x 0.15m), long axis NE-SW, in burial ground (CO118-031002-) in early ecclesiastical enclosure (CO118-031001-). SW face divided into four panels: uppermost, two pieces of ribbon interlace; second panel, praying figure; third, Greek cross; lowest, St Paul and St Anthony seated at pedestal table holding bread. NE face divided into three panels: topmost, remains of spiral interlace; second, two pairs four legged animals; third, boat with four oarsmen and fifth figure steering in stern, rowing through sea of crosses. Two incisions (L 0.06; Wth 0.03; D 0.04) on top pillar indicate attachment of an original further element. Adjacent are four deeply grooved boulders which may have functioned as hinge/cornerstones in structure. (Hourihane and Hourihane 1979, 65-73). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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