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Near the centre of Duleek village, Co Meath, in the derelict Church of Ireland, stands a small High Cross made of sandstone. As you go through the gates towards the Church the Cross is on your right hand side, it is only 1.82 metres high and very easy to walk past. On the West face, pictured on the right, are figure sculptures, the easiest to identify being a crucifixion scene at the centre of the head. The Irish archaeologist Peter Harbison believes they are scenes illustrating the early life of the Virgin Mary.

Durrow

Around the middle of the 6th century a monastery was founded here by St Colomba, the monastery is famous for an illuminated manuscript, written here in the 7th century, known as the Book of Durrow. West of the Church is a fine High Cross,the East face is pictured on the right, the head features Christ with sceptre and cross -staff, associated with the last judgement, and on his left a piper and David With his harp, on his right David and the lion. The South face features Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel. The west face as usual has the Crucifixtion on the head and also the arrest of Christ.

Graiguenamanagh

Situated on the river Barrow, Graiguenamanagh is home to one of the best preserved Cistercian abbeys in Ireland, Duiske Abbey. Although the abbey was founded in 1207, there are two granite high crosses in the graveyard to the south of the church, dating to the 8th century, both of these crosses were brought here from elsewhere. The North Cross, East face pictured right, came from Ballyogan, the iconography and design of this particular cross are clearly similar to the other crosses of the Barrow valley although slightly more primative, was this cross a fore runner to the crosses at Castledermot ? The South Cross, pictured below left, came from Aghakiltawn. Both crosses have a crucifixion scene on the west face. The North cross bears figure sculpture on the shaft, below the crucifixion is Adam and Eve below that is the sacrifice of Isaac and at the bottom of the shaft David with a harp. Geometric designs are featured on the north and south sides. Built into the wall of the Abbey is a Cross Slab, also in the abbey grounds is the base of a third cross.


Kells cross
The Monastery at Kells was founded in 804 by monks from St Colmcille's, Iona. As well as the Book of Kells, finished here around the 9th century, the monastery is famous for it's Round Tower and High Crosses.

The Cross of St Patrick and St Columba, also known as the South Cross, east face pictured on the right, stands around 17 ft high and was erected in the 9 th century. On the East face you can see Adam and Eve and Cain slaying Abel, above that is The Three Children in the Furnace and above that Daniel in the Lions' Den.

Kilkieran

At Kilkieran Co Kilkenny are three Sandstone crosses and the fragments of another high cross. These crosses are part of the Ossory group, which includes the crosses at Ahenny, Killamery and Kilree.

The West Cross, or decorated cross pictured right, is probably the most important and is very similar to the crosses at Ahenny. On the Eastern side of the base there is some figure sculpture showing 8 horsemen, the rest of the cross is mainly covered with celtic interlace but it is unusual, in that some of the interlace on the base is imperfect, which is very rare on high cross sculpture. This cross also has the conical cap we associate with other crosses in this group and is also interspersed with bosses. This cross stands at 3.55 metres high.


Killamery
Situated in an old graveyard in Kilkenny is the High Cross of Killamery one of the western Ossory group of crosses. The west face of the cross bears most of the figure sculpture, unfortunately the light was not good on my last visit so I will have to photograph that side at a later date. The east face pictured left, is mainly decorated with marigolds and a boss in the centre of the head surrounded by intertwining serpents. There is a worn inscription on the base of the cross which is said to read as 'OR DO MAELSECHNAILL' a prayer for Maelsechnaill, Maelsechnaill was the High King of Ireland from 846 to 862.

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