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'Clonmacnoise - Crosses' : High Cross

TownlandClonmacnoise
CountyOffaly
Grid RefN 009 307
Longitude7° 59' 11.37" W
Latitude53° 19' 35.65" N
Nearest TownMoate (19.5 Km)
OS Sheet47
UTM zone29U
UTM x567501.62340889
UTM y5909078.5341237

This is a subsite of:

Clonmacnoise - Round Tower
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Visit Notes

Sunday, 30th June 2002

There are three crosses here - the North Cross, the South Cross and the famous Cross of the Scriptures.

The crosses were taken inside the interpretation centre in 1993 and copies placed outside where the originals stood. The copies are very good. I did not go into the centre on this visit as I arrived very late.

The North Cross is just the shaft that is mainly given over to zoomorphic patterns that would have scared me to death as a kid. They are quite beautifully executed.

The South Cross is more ornate with two biblical scenes on the base and only a crucifixion (with earth and ocean represented by Tellus and Gaia) on the head - this is unique though. The remainder of the shaft is covered in patterns and knot work.

The Cross of the Scriptures is a work of art! This cross has several unique features including upturned arms to the cross and the ring standing proud of the cross. All four faces are covered in wonderful biblical scenes too numerous for me to list here, but the include the Last Judgement, Christ's Entry into Jeruselem, Christ Under the tomb-slab and Joseph Interpreting the Butler's Dreams.

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All Sites Visited On 30th June 2002    « Previous Site    Next Site »

Sunday, 23rd March 2003

Definitely take the time to see the original crosses in the Visitor's Centre. For one thing they are much better than the copies which now occupy their original positions.

All Sites Visited On 23rd March 2003    « Previous Site    Next Site »

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Random Gazetteer

A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments

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9.9 Km (NNW) there is a Portal Tomb at Mihanboy (Co. Roscommon).
3.5 Km (ESE) there is a Rock Art at Clonfinlough.
4.5 Km (WSW) there is a Grave or Cross Slab at Cloonburren (Co. Roscommon).
0 m (W) there is a Round Tower at Clonmacnoise.
282.8 m (SW) there is a Castle at Clonmacnoise.

A Selection of Other High Crosses

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