Cross — Twyford

National Monument No. 223. In 1837 the Ordnance Survey recorded the following about the location of Bealin High Cross; ‘On Cross hill in the parish of Ballyloughloe there is a curiously sculptured ancient cross said to have been removed thither from an old graveyard (WM029-009002-) in Twy [ford] by the father of the present Lord Castlemaine. No trace of this graveyard is now visible, but the cross proves that there was an ancient church (WM029-009----) there’ (OSL 1837, vol. 1, 68). Bealin High Cross described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 25-6) as following; 'The cross now standing on top of a hill in the former Twyford demesne, close to a lane leading northwards from Bealin Post Office, is almost certainly not in its original location. It is said to have formerly stood beside a well (WM029-009001-) in the demesne. Henry assumed that it was taken from Clonmacnoise, but there would not appear to be any evidence that it is to be identified with a cross marked with the letter R on Blaymires' 17th century view of Clonmacnoise. Its original location must remain a mystery. The cross stands to a height of about 2.1m above a modern base, and is 27cm thick. Its north arm has been badly damaged, but the original width across the arms must have been about 1.06m. Of the ring, only the lower segment of the south side has been preserved, and its edges have raised mouldings of the same kind as found on the shaft and arms of the cross. EAST FACE Shaft: A lion, with projecting tongue and raised tail above its back, proceeds to the left at the bottom of the shaft. Above it, birds with elongated necks have tails which coil into a spiral, where they interlace with a ribbon-bodied animal. The head of one of the brids can clearly be seen to have an ear-lappet. Above the second bird there is another animal with a tail which interlaces in spiral fashion with the second bird's neck, and with its head placed in the upper left-hand corner of the panel. Head: The centre of the head is occupied by a square panel with a two-strand interlace, above which there is a double three-pointed knot of interlace. The south arm bears a lion similar to that on the bottom of the shaft and - like it-also turning towards the left. SOUTH SIDE S1 : A ribbon-bodied animal forming a flat interlace, with its head on top and its fish-like tail below. S2 : A lyre-like design, consisting of a pelta shaped C-spiral rising upwards to two outward-coiling spirals. S3 : A panel of single-strand loose interlace. The underside of the ring bears interlace ornament. End of arm: The end of the arm bears a panel of two-strand interlace. WEST FACE W1: Inscription. An inscription, unusually in raised lettering, reads OROIT AR TUATHGAIL LAS DERNATH IN CHROSSA - A prayer for Tuathgail who had the cross made. The letter S is placed the wrong way round in each case. W2: Four circular interlacing devices. W3: A two-strand interlace terminating above in two brid-heads with interlocking beaks. Between the birds' necks there is a raised knot of interlacing with a sunken cross-shape in the centre. Head: A round knot of interlace is placed in a raised circle at the centre of the head, surrounded by a further circle of single-strand interlacing framed by a further raised circle. The south arm has loose interlace enclosing a round knot of interlace, similar to that between the birds' necks on the shaft. The decoration of the north arm is similar, though more worn, while the ornamentation of the top of the cross has been completely obliterated. NORTH SIDE N1 : Hunting scene -(Porter-Fergus hunting the stag with Tuiren). The bottom of the panel is occupied by a horseman with a crook, and by a three-pointed knot of interlace above the hindquarters of the horse which prances towards the right. Above them a dog, facing left, bites one hind leg of a stag facing towards the right. N2 : A cross-shaped step-pattern with central square boss, and with L-shapes in the corners of the panel. N3: Interlace. The ring has been broken away, as has also the end of the north arm.' (Harbison 1992, Vol.1, 26-7). SIDE 1 : Panel 1 : two animals one above the other, enmeshed in a narrow band of interlace. The tail of the upper animal terminates in a triangular shape in the centre of the panel. Panel 2 : A single-strand interlace. Panel 3 : Interlinking C-shaped spirals forming pelta-shapes, terminating in two outward-turning spirals at the top. Panel 4 : A damage coiled animal (head missing) with a fish-like tail. Face 2 Panel 1 : A human interlace with the legs intertwined at the centre and the bodies radiating outwards to the corners. A narrow ribbon winds its way around the arms of the four human figures. Panel 2 : A deer with its front right leg caught in a rectangular trap. Panel 3 : A horseman, with hair flat on top and falling to a curl behind, holds a crozier in his right hand which emerges from the folds of his cape-like garment. He has no stirrups, and his legs are placed well forward as the horse prances proudly to the right. Above is a partially-damaged prancing lion with protruding rongue, also facing towards the right. Its tail rises behind, and terminates in two leaf-like shapes. SIDE 2 : Panel 1 : A tall panel bearing interlace of various kinds which terminate in animal-heads with rope-like necks and ear-lappets, and with their mouths biting the interlace. Panel 2 : Very similar to panel 3 on side 1. Panel 3 : Interlace terminating below in animal-heads which bite the interlace. A broad groove at the top suggests that a ring may have been inserted secondarily to support the arms of a cross'. See attached screenshots of 3D model of Bealin High Cross created by Digital Heritage Age. 3D model can be accessed on the Sketchfab website at: https://skfb.ly/6vMYT Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 16 January 2018