Ahenny boasts a matching pair of fine celtic crosses. Both are carved with amazing knotwork and patterns.
They stand over 2.4m tall and are 1.2m wide. The crosses have lovely bosses on them.
These are clearly signposted and well worth a visit.
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_My previous visit here was quite late in the evening and, to be honest, I didn't really know what I was looking at and so I've always wanted to come back here. Seeing the crosses in good light is quite a revelation: they're beautiful! I prefer these to any of the panelled sculpted 'high' crosses.
The southern cross is in the best condition, but has lost its cap. The northern cross has better quality carvings on it, although much of the raised parts have broken off.
The amount of difference between the carvings on the pair surprises me. For instance, the bosses on the northern cross are more ornate on the west face, whereas it is the east face on the southern cross that has more fanciful bosses. The huge bases are very different too. That of the southern cross has sloping sides which are each split into two plain panels. The base of the northern cross has vertical sides that have carved panels similar to later high crosses. Sadly the carvings on these are very difficult to make out due to erosion and lichen cover. The west side does have seven figures with croziers, the east face features indistinct animals, while the south face seems to have a figure on the righthand side looking at a horned beast that is being attacked by a bird on its back.
I am fascinated by the hill to the southeast (no surprises there!), which is the real purpose of my visit to this area today and where I'm going next. Its elongated form is very evocative and seems to draw your attention immediately.
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_A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
 Emlagh (Co. Roscommon) |  St. Berrihert's Kyle (Co. Tipperary) |  Old Kilcullen (Co. Kildare) |
 Kinnity (Co. Offaly) |  Lorrha (Co. Tipperary) |  Dysert (Co. Clare) |
