Cross-inscribed pillar in Dadreen

In pasture, located on a small natural terrace, broken by rock out-cropping, on a SW-facing slope. Though currently located within a levelled cashel (MA105-013----), this may not always have been the case: according to local information, the cross-slab was moved in relatively recent years to its current location from a spot a short distance upslope in the same field. Upright stone slab (H 1.85m; max Wth 0.55m; T 0.1-0.15m), long axis aligned N−S, bearing a carving of an equal-armed cross on the W face. The slab is roughly rectangular in shape. It is 0.48m wide at the base, expands gently to 0.55m in the middle and narrows to 0.4m at top. The top is slanting, with the highest point at S. The cross is located towards the top of the slab, 0.4m below the top peak. A shallow horizontal groove extends across the width of the slab marking the top of the rectangular panel pecked out to create the cross (H 0.45m; Wth 0.4m) in shallow false relief. The arms of the cross curve outwards gently to expanded terminals. The horizontal arms extend to almost the full width of the slab, leaving a gap of 2-3cms at the outer edge of the stone on either side. The terminals of the horizontal arms expand to a width of 0.12-0.13m. The terminals of the vertical arms are slightly wider, 0.15m at top and 0.17m at base/foot. A short stem or projection (Wth 0.02m; H 0.04m) descends from the centre of the foot of the cross. Though intended as an equal-armed cross, it is somewhat asymmetrical in execution, with the upper vertical arm and the right-hand horizontal arm being slightly longer than the other two arms. Herity (1989, 97-98) suggests a date in the seventh century for the cross. He notes that this type of cross is not uncommon in carvings and manuscripts, but mentions, in particular, the similarity with the expanded-arm cross on the Dolphins cross-slab (MA094-003041-) on Caher Island, Co. Mayo, and a cross-in-circle on an ogham stone (KE025-002----) on Mount Brandon in Arraglen, Co. Kerry, which also has a short stem at the foot of the cross. Images: MA105-015----_01.JPG W face of the cross-slab MA105-015----_02.JPG Close-up of carving of cross Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 24 October 2017