Killamery High Cross

Killamery High Cross
Native name Irish: Ardchros Chill Lamraí
The Maelsechnaill Cross The Snake-Dragon Cross
Type	High cross
Location	Killamery, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Coordinates	52°28′32″N 7°26′46″W / 52.475437°N 7.446012°WCoordinates: 52°28′32″N 7°26′46″W / 52.475437°N 7.446012°W
Area	Anner Valley
Height	3.65 metres (12.0 ft)
Built	9th century AD
National Monument of Ireland
Official name: Killamery Cross
Reference no.	75
Location of Killamery High Cross in Ireland

Killamery Cross is a 9th-century high cross and National Monument in Killamery, County Kilkenny, Ireland.^[1] It is located in the north of Killamery graveyard.^[2]

History

A monastery was established at Killamery by St Gobhan, a disciple of Saint Fursey, in AD 632. The Killamery High cross is part of the western Ossory group of crosses, used as a model for many of the small high crosses sold across the world as an Irish symbol.^[3]

Locals formerly touched the cross's capstone to cure headaches.^[4][5]

Description

The cross stands 3.65 metres (12.0 ft) high. It is richly sculptured on the shaft with marigold flowers carved on it. There is a boss in the middle of the wheel-head that is surrounded by interlacing snakes and, above the boss, an open-mouthed dragon, giving it the name of the Snake-Dragon Cross.

The western face has a sun swastika at the centre and also depicts Adam and Eve, a stag hunt and a chariot procession.^[2][6] On top of the cross is a gabled cap-stone. Noah and John the Baptist are depicted. On the base an inscription reads OR DO MAELSECHNAILL, "a prayer for Máel Sechnaill", who was high king of Ireland in 846–862.

Other artefacts

There is also a cross-slab of an earlier date the inscription OROIT AR ANMAIN N-AEDAIN, "Pray for the soul of Áedáin". Two bullaun stones can also be seen. There is also a holy well, St Goban's Well.^{[7][8][9] [10]}

References

1. "Killamery, Co. Kilkenny".
2. "Killamery high cross - Nigel Borrington".
3. Hourihane, Colum (1 January 2001). "From Ireland Coming: Irish Art from the Early Christian to the Late Gothic Period and Its European Context". Princeton University Press – via Google Books.
4. Richardson, Hilary; Scarry, John (1 January 1990). "An introduction to Irish high crosses". Mercier Press – via Google Books.
5. Monk, Michael A.; Sheehan, John (1 January 1998). "Early Medieval Munster: Archaeology, History and Society". Cork University Press – via Google Books.
6. "Killamery High Cross".
7. Map, The Megalithic Portal and Megalith. "Killamery High Cross".
8. "Killamery High Cross - Tulllahought Tidy Towns".
9. "Killamery High Cross".
10. 2012, PIP. "KILLAMERY HIGH CROSS/ANTIQUITIES OF IRELAND.COM".