Stone Cross — Loughaun

Tihilly High Cross located to the SE of the medieval church (OF008-045001-) this high cross is in poor condition with only half of its ringed head surviving along with its circular base which is also partially destroyed. The OPW has done some restoration work to it in recent years. The cross shaft is composed of two pieces with interlace and geometric patterns carved in panels on the N, S and E faces. There are two biblical figures carved on the west face which are badly weathered and impossible to decipher. However from previous descriptions these figures consist of Adam and Eve and the Crucifixion. The cross sits on top of a circular base which has two bands carved in high relief encircling the base. The Northern portion of this base is missing along with the top and northern portion of the ringed head of the cross. The whole cross measures approx. 2.5m high by 0.2m thick by 0.3m wide. Described by Harbison as a 'High Cross near a church (OF008-045001-) standing on a round base. Adam and Eve, and a Crucifixion can be seen on the west face, and many of the other panels are filled up with good interlacing, geometrical and animal motifs. Nearby is also an Early-Christian grave-slab (OF008-045004-)' (Harbison 1970, 207). A 3D model of the high cross can be downloaded from Offaly County Council website at www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Heritage/Archaeology/3D_Surveying_of_Archaeological_Monuments/ In 1992 the cross was recorded by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 172-3) and described as following: 'The cross is much damaged, but enough remains to show that it was a ringed cross with roll mouldings at the edges. The panels are divided by mouldings which come in horizontally from the sides and double back on themselves without meeting each other in the middle. The present height of the cross is 1.80m high, and it was probably about 65cm across the arms originally. The almost straight shaft is 35cm wide and 20cm thick. It is mounted on a round base 55cm high and with a diameter of about 88cm; it has two horizontal roll mouldings on the bottom, and one on the top. EAST FACE E1 : Two birds with interlocking necks, and with a human head between them on the bottom of the panel. E2 : Interlace E3 : A human interlace, with one head in each corner and the legs meeting in the middle. E4 : A spiral fret-pattern. Head: At the centre of the head there is a rounded bearing a spiral joined to others surrounding it. There is interlace, possibly of an animal variety, on the arms and on the upper part of the shaft. Ring : it is no longer possible to make out the decoration of the ring. SOUTH SIDE S1 : Interlace S2 : Two affronted upright animals with crossed necks, comparable to those on the shaft of the south side of Saints Patrick and Columba's Cross at Kells. S3 : An S-spiral design. S4 : Interlace. End of arm : Fragmentary panel of fretwork. WEST FACE W 1 : A winged griffin, with head to the left, and possibly facing slightly outwards. W 2 : An interlace of four circular devices. W 3 : ADAM AND EVE KNOWING THEIR NAKEDNESS. - Adam and Eve both hide their nakedness as they approach one another in half-profile under the arcading branches of the apple tree. W 4 : Interlace of four circular devices with an extra band of interlace beneath. Head : THE CRUCIFIXION. - Christ stands in a tight-fitting garment possibly with his legs bound. His arms hand down at a slight angle. To the left is Stephaton holding up the vinegar on the end of a pole, while on the right, Longinus pierces Christ's armpit with his lance. Above Christ's head there is an unidentified object or figure (a bird or an angel?). There may possibly be a small figure at the end of the surviving arm. NORTH SIDE N1 : Above a 'plinth' panel, seemingly undecorated, there is a panel of interlace. N 2 : C-shaped spirals of pelta-type above one another. N 3 : An irregular but deeply modelled animal interlace, with the animals facing upwards. N 4 : A two-strand interlace. The end of the arm is broken. Gable. The gable of the cross is at present kept in the Department of Archaeology in University College, Dublin. It is 38cm high (including its tenon below), 29cm wide and 18cm thick. It is house-shaped and has flat broad mouldings at the corners, the finials consisting of a pelta-shaped with each end curving up into a spiral. There may be a trace of shingles on the sloping 'roof'.' 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