Cross-slab in Ballinlena

Located in the N half of a graveyard (MA008-0060007-), on the W side of a shrine (MA008-006002-), traditionally known as St. Cummin’s grave. This early medieval cross-slab is set upright in the ground in a row of seven upright stones which border the W side of the shrine. It consists of a roughly rectangular slab (H 0.62m; L 0.38m N–S; T 0.12m) on the broad W face of which there are four crosses each enclosed within a circle, all outlined by incised grooves. The design is symmetrically executed, with three small crosses flanking a central large cross. The largest cross is roughly centrally placed on the slab. It consists of a single line Greek cross (H 0.18m; Wth 0.15m) with forked terminals, framed by an outer line which follows the cross shape; the whole is enclosed within a single-line circle. There is a small circular dimple or depression in each of the four quadrants of the circle flanking the arms of the cross. The enclosing circle (H 0.43; Wth 0.2m) is more properly described as ovoid in shape, narrowing towards it base where it fuses with a smaller circle (diam. 0.1m), enclosing a Maltese cross. The two other cross-in-circles are located above the largest cross-in-circle, one on either side of the top half of the slab; both these circles (diam. 0.1m) enclose a Maltese-type cross. The cross-slab probably falls within the date range of 7th to 9th century. The slab is blotched with lichen. Attached image: MA008-006003-_01.JPG Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019