Stone Crosses — Ahenny

On an E-facing slope in undulating hilly terrain. A high cross, of sandstone, is centrally placed within a square graveyard (TS079-007005-) defined by a stone wall. A later medieval church (TS079-007001-) is located c. 30m to the N. Another high cross (TS079-007002-) is located to the N and a cross base to the NE (TS079-007004-). The S cross (H 3.35m; Wth 1.33m) is of the ringed high cross type with a low conical capstone. The cross itself is decorated with ornamental designs which are paralleled in 8th-century metalwork (Richardson and Scarry 1990, 29). The base (1.21m x 1.17m; H 0.5m) is decorated with denuded figured scenes on all four sides, each panel is divided in two by a cross in relief. The N and S side depict a hunting scene; the E side includes Daniel in the lions' den on the left; the S side includes the fall of man on the left; the W side is too worn to decipher (ibid.; Edwards 1983, 28). The high cross is part of a group of crosses identified with the former medieval kingdom of Ossory (Crawford 1909, 256-60; Edwards 1983, 5-46). There is moss on the N and E face of the base of the cross and lichen on the W and S face of the base. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011