Graveslab (present location) in Raheen (athenry By.)

This graveslab was originally located in the Saint’s Graveyard (CL029-009030-) on Inis Cealtra (Holy Island), Co. Clare - see CL029-009033- for original location). It is visible still in situ in a photograph from de Paor’s excavation report (1997) and was indicated as such on his plan (SMR file). It was exhibited in Mountshannon in August 1982 and was then placed for safe keeping in the OPW depot in Athenry, Co. Galway where it has SMR number (GA084-151007-). The slab (H 1.6m; Wth 0.59m; T 0.06m) has a ringed Latin cross in false relief. All four terminals have semicircular expansions, that of the shaft dividing into two petals. There is four-pointed recess at the centre of the cross. There are the outlines of two shod feet on the right hand side, the right foot above the arm of the cross and the left foot below it, both pointing to the top. Macalister (1916-17, 153, no. 31, plate XX) suggests that this may indicate that the person commemorated was a pilgrim. The inscription which is incised in two lines above the head of the cross and inverted reads ‘COSCRACH LAIGNECH’ (Coscrach the Leinsterman). The form of this cross is unique at Inis Cealtra and is dated by Macalister (ibid.) to the 10th century. (Okasha and Forsyth 2001, 58-61) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Olive Alcock Date of upload: 10 March 2023

Graveslab from a medieval Christian burial site, likely 7th to 10th century AD. It is significant as part of the ecclesiastical heritage of Inis Cealtra, a historically important monastic site in early Ireland.