What is recorded here

Trinity Abbey in County Cavan lost a grotesque male stone head with bulging eyes, one closed, a long nose, cheek wrinkles and hair on top. The head now stands in the National Museum, stripped from its church context but still wearing the face of a man who may have watched prayers, storms or passing carts. Its one closed eye suggests tiredness, mockery or peace, depending on the hour you look at it.

Davies (1948, 100) recorded a grotesque male head (now in National Museum) which is believed to have come from Trinity Abbey (CV020-077001-). The head has bulging eyes, one of which appears to be closed, a long prominent nose, wrinkles on both cheeks and hair on top. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008

Probably medieval in origin, associated with Trinity Abbey; the stylized and possibly symbolic stone head may have had a ritual or decorative function, though its specific meaning remains unclear.

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