Cross-inscribed pillar in Inishmurray

Located within an ecclesiastical enclosure (SL001-001001-), 4m N of Templemolaise church (SL001-001009-). This is a National Monument (no. 117) in state ownership. Pillar stone (H: <1.32 m, W: 0.34 m, Th: 0.126 m) inscribed on its west face with a shafted cross (0.732 m by 0.246 m). It is formed from a primary incised cross with serifed terminals in the upper arms, encapsulated within an outline cross, with which it fuses at the terminals. The upper arms terminate in outward curling flourishes while the shaft terminates in a simpler expansion bisected by an incised vertical element. Midway along the shaft of the outline cross is a very worn expansion. In each of the narrow sides, at roughly the height of the cross arms, is a vertically orientated oblong hole (c. 0.12 m by 0.25 m and 0.06 m deep). These are linked with two smaller holes (c. 25 mm in diameter) incised into the back of the pillar. In recent times, the holes were the focus of rituals relating to child-bearing and fertility (Wakeman 1886; 1893; Mountbatten 1972; McGowan 1998). Originally, however, the holes in the narrow sides probably held wooden arms secured with nails driven through the smaller holes at the back of the pillar. 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: 16 January 2018