Cross-slab in Kyle (clandonagh By.)

In undulating countryside. St. Molua founded a monastery here in the sixth century and he is commemorated on the 4th August. (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 277). Fragment of an east-west wall visible. No other visible surface remains. St. Molua founded a monastery at Kyle in the late sixth or early seventh century, kyle is now known as Clonfert-Molua or Cluain Ferta Moula - the meadow of the grave. This record refers to one two Early Christian cross-inscribed slabs situated in Clonfert-Molua graveyard (LA015-023002-; see LA015-023005-). This slab lies up against the inner face of the W end of the S boundary wall of the graveyard and approximately 3m E of a large Celtic Cross. The stone consists of a large roughly rectangular sandstone slab or pillar (1.32m x 0.38m x 0.16m base Wth; 0.16m T) decorated with a large incised circle within which there is a simple line cross, above the circle there is a semi-circle and below the central circle there is a second semi-circle (FitzPatrick 1993; FitzPatrick 2003, 167, Fig. 29). 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 this instance the record has been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 22 November 2013

Probably dating to the early medieval period, this cross-slab may be associated with the monastery founded by St. Molua in the 6th century. It may have served a liturgical or commemorative function within a Christian settlement.