Cross — High cross in Clonmacnoise

National Monument No. 81. Not marked on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps, located to the N of the Cathedral (OF005-004001-) as a result known as the North Cross. Only portion of cross shaft with remains of a tenon at the top set into a circular cross base which was originally a millstone (Manning 1994, 41). Decoration mainly consists of interlaced human figures, animals and panels of animal design. The E side of the cross is totally blank with decoration on all the other faces. (Westropp 1907, 289; Macalister 1910, 27; Harbison 1970, 203; Hicks 1980, 6-28) Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 53-4) as following: 'It stands to a height of 1.85m, with a 5cm tall tenon on top. The shaft is 39cm wide and 32 cm thick. The panels are all framed by a raised moulding, and there are traces of a roll moulding in the upright edges. As the east face is undecorated, the cross may have been designed to stand against a wall. EAST FACE Undecorated SOUTH SIDE S 1 : A panel of irregular interlace (with animal-head terminations?). S 2 : Unidentified figure - A frontal figure in 'buddha' pose, with arms and legs folded, and seemingly with a human head in profile on each side, which appears to whisper into the ear of the seated figure. S 3 : An S-shaped spiral in raised relief, and terminating in animal heads. S 4 : A lion, facing right, with its tail raised behind its back and having a protruding tongue. WEST FACE W 1 : An interlace of four interlinked circular devices. W 2 : An interlace forming four roughly spiral-shaped forms. W 3 : An interlace with angles at the corners. W 4 : An interlace with fish-tail terminals forming four loose spiral-shaped designs set around a small ring in the centre. W 5 : The lower hald of a panel which was divided into four segments by a cross-shape with a circular centre and half-circle terminals. The two surviving lower segments have raised panels of circular interlace. NORTH SIDE N 1 : A panel of loose interlace. N 2 : A panels of two contorted animals with snake-like bodies. N 3 : A tall panel in three sections. In the lowermost section there is a quadruped with raised left hind leg. It turns its head backwards to bite the hind leg of the animal forming the middle section above it, which places its right hind leg on the hindquarters of the lower animal, as it turns its head back to bite what seems to be its own tail. The second, upper animal may have its front leg raised in front of it. The uppermost section of the panel shows a now headless but probably human body decorated with spiral ornament, with its right leg folding beneath itself, the anatomically curious left leg starting above the right leg and then interlacing with it at a diagonal. Curled up at the bottom of this uppermost section of the panel is an animal which coils its serpent-like body in a broad sweep above the human figure's left lower leg and underneath its right ankle, then above the right upper leg and beneath the left upper leg, and finally running out or expanding to the right of the spiral-decorated human body'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011