Cross — High cross (present location) in Townparks (roscrea Par.)

National Monument No. 126. High Cross replica now stands in the grounds of St Cronán's C of I graveyard in Roscrea town with the Romanesque church (TN012-010001-) and round tower (TN012-010005-) to the S and W respectively. Original twelfth-century sandstone high cross was moved in 2004 from this location and is now housed 55m to the NW inside the OPW Black Mills Interpretative centre (TN012-010014-). Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 162-3) as following; 'The lower fragment of the shaft is 1.78m high, 80cm wide and about 40cm thick at the bottom. The upper fragment, comprising most of the head, is now 1.2m tall, and although the south arm has been broken away, it must have measured about 1.50m across the arms originally. There seems to have been a small rope moulding on the edges of the shaft. On the east and west faces the decorated panels are seperated by horizontal raised mouldings. The surviving armpit has a stepped outline, and there is the remnant of a volute on the interior surface of the ring. There is also an exterior volute or cushion-moulding where the exterior surface of the ring meets the shaft and the arm. The whole surface of the cross is sadly worn and pitted, but the carved figures in relief suggest that, in its original state, it must have been one of the most splendid of the 12th century crosses in Ireland. Lower fragment of shaft: EAST FACE E 1 : ADAM AND EVE - Adam and Eve stand, seemingly clothed, on either side of a tree with a thick trunk. E 2-3 : Two badly worn panels, apparently bearing animal interlace. E 4 : Possibly a centaur with two figures behind, one seemingly blowing a pipe of Pan, all proceeding towards the left. SOUTH SIDE S 1 : A Bishop of Abbot. - A long robed figure in high relief with a cloak (held together by a brooch?) and bearing an inturned crook in right hand. S 2 : Above the figure in relief there seems to be a panel bearing the lower portion of two frontal figures. WEST FACE A number of panels of much abraded animal interlace. NORTH SIDE A long robed figure in high relief, belted at the waist and with belt-ends hanging down in front. The hands of the figure are down by the side. The head, which was inserted seperately, is now missing. Head EAST FACE Bishop or Abbot - A bishop or abbot, dressed in a (?) chasuble, the pleats of which can be seen from the side, holds a crozier with both hands in front. His mitre is difficult to make out, but it seems to have risen to a triangle on the south side. The north arm bears a circular depression. SOUTH SIDE The south arm and ring have been replaced by a modern substitute. However, a small portion of the top of the shaft survives, showing the upper part of a panel bearing the heads of two human figures. WEST FACE : THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST Christ, probably bearded and with his hair falling down onto his shoulders, stretches out his emaciated long arms, that on the right being a modern replacement. He is apparently clad in a long robe with a belt at the waist. NORTH SIDE At the top of the shaft there is a panel bearing indeterminate sculpture in low false relief. Between the cushion moulding at the top and bottom of the underside of the ring there is an animal interlace with two serpents with widely-opened mouths at the top and bottom, intertwined by a narrower beast. Part of the end of the arm has been cut away. There may have been figure sculpture at the top of the shaft, but if so, it is now unrecognisable'. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of updated revision: 8 April 2015