Cross in Sceilg Mhichíl

'This large stone cross with hollowed angles and a rounded head, sometimes referred to as the Priest's Stone, stands on the SW end of leacht [KE104A001053-]. Occupying much of its SW face is an outline Latin cross. Its head is recessed slightly and the shaft expands in width to the base. Beneath each arm a diagonal cross is framed by a grooved rectangle, from the outer side of which a groove extends upwards to frame the head of the cross in a double outline form. A diagonal line joins the upper angles of the head to the arms below. Faint traces of an encircled equal-armed cross are preserved on the head of the slab. H: 2.4m. W: .71m. T: .14m' (O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, 288, no. 948 (34)). See attached photograph and drawing of cross taken from The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996) Fig. 180 and Plate 72. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 948. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 9 March 2022

The high cross at Sceilg Mhichíl, located on the southwest face of the island's monastery, was likely built in the 8th or 9th century by early Christian monks. It is associated with the monastic settlement dedicated to St Michael and is significant as a rare and important example of early Irish monastic and sculptural art.