What is recorded here

Thirteen early Christian cross-slabs emerged in 1988 when workers cut a pathway through the Clonenagh graveyard, revealing stones buried beneath centuries of soil. Three display false relief while the others bear simple incised crosses, yet all now lean against the inner east wall where discarded grass and debris have smothered their bases. The discovery suggests a forgotten community marked its dead with deliberate stone work before the earth reclaimed their names.

In an elevated area. In 1988 thirteen early Christian cross-slabs, rectangular in shape were uncovered during the digging of a pathway through the graveyard (LA017-003007-) at Clonenagh. Three are in false relief, the remainder are simple incised crosses. These cross-slabs have been attached to the inner E face of the graveyard wall in the W quadrant of the graveyard. The slabs have been numbered one to thirteen by Manning in his article entitled 'Cross-Slabs from Clonenagh, Co. Laois' (1998, 185-192). The slabs are upright just inside the gateway to the graveyard. This area has been used as a dumping place for cut grass and other debris that has resulted in the base of the slabs being covered in soil and vegetation. Slab 12 consists of a 'small slab (H 0.2m; Wth 0.27m; T 0.07m) with incised crosses on each face. The incised lines are 20-30mm wide and run to the edge of the stone. The cross on one face appears to have had slightly expanded terminals' (Manning 1998, 189). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Dated to the early Christian period (6th–10th centuries AD), the cross-slab in Clonenagh likely served a commemorative or liturgical function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in Ireland. Such stones often bore Christian symbols and were associated with monastic sites or cemeteries.

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