Cross-slab in Inishmurray

Located on a leacht, known as Laghta Columbkille. This is a National Monument (no. 117) in state ownership. Slab (H: 0.915 m, W: 0.416 m, Th: 0.08 m) with rectangular frame defined by an incised line. Rising from its lower edge is an incised cross (0.54 m by 0.262 m) whose upper arms terminate in broad cusped-butted serifs. In each quadrant is a subordinate rectangular border arranged symmetrically so that they double as an outline cross around the main motif. In the lower quadrants these frames terminate short of the baseline with a clubbed serif and each surrounds a smaller version of the main cross motif. The frames in the upper quadrants each contain a smaller rectangle which in turn contains a stepped motif. On the opposite face is an incised cross (0.485 m by 0.28 m) with forked serifs, a false relief boss at the crossing and a small circular pit in each quadrant. The above description is derived from the results of a survey of the archaeological monuments on Inishmurray undertaken in 1997-1999 and published in: Jerry O’Sullivan and Tomás Ó Carragáin 2008 Inishmurrary. Monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. Cork. The Collins Press. Date of upload: 19 February 2018

Cross-slab in Inishmurray likely dates to the early Christian period (5th–9th century AD) and may be associated with Saint Columba (Columbkille), given its location on Laghta Columbkille. Such slabs often served as markers for holy sites or memorials and may have had both religious and territorial significance.