Kilfernora North Cross

Now moved inside

Kilfenora Celtic Cross, High Crosses & Cross Fragment Info & Photo Gallery  

 

Location:  Cill Fhionnúrach, Kilfenora Cathedral, Kilfernora, Co. Clare, Ireland.

 

The 'Doorty' High Cross.

An Chros 'Thuaidh' - The 'North' Cross.

Cross Fragment.

 

Older Photos of the North Cross when it was outside.

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Access: Is located in the old Cathedral grounds, in the middle of Kilfnora Town. So easy to find.

 

Update, 2 of the Crosses and 2 cross fragements have been move into the old Cathedral with a roofed enclosure built over the top of the old Cathedral to protect the Cathedral and Crosses.

 

The 'South' Cross.

An Chros 'Thiar' - The 'West' Cross.

Location of the West Cross.

 

 

Older photos of the North Cross outside

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Description:  A number of pre-christain crosss and christain crosses, with geometrical and interlace designs. At least six, and possibly seven stone crosses are known to have existed at Kilfernora, forming one of the largest concentrations of this kind of monument at any site in the country. Carved from local limestone, the surviving crosses and cross fragments are stylistically quite similar, and are believed to have been made in the late 11th or early 12th century. At least some of the crosses may have functioned as boundary markers, with four of them originally located close to the four roads that run at right angles into the town. A number of cross fragments were recovered from the site during the 1950s. These included the broken base shaft known as the 'south' cross and a smaller shaft fragment carved with abstract knot and fretwork patterns.

 

Traditional Lore: 

Cros 'na nDuartach' - The 'Doorty' High Cross.

The shaft of the 'Doorty' cross was formerly re-used as a tombstone on the 18th century Doorty family tomb. In 1955 it was reunited with the upper part of the cross, which had previously lain in the chancel of the church.

The figure of a bishop or Druid dominates the head of the cross. Has a staff in his left hand which some say is of a European style volute-headed croaier. Has angels or birds on his shoulders. In the centre of the shaft are two eccleslastics or druids, one holding an Irish style drop-headed crozier, the other a tau crozier. The bases of the crozier rest on a bird or winged beast, which stands on the heads of two human torsos.

The other face of the cross head is said to depict the crucified Christ, with a bird in each hollow. At the base of the shaft is the shingled roof of a building or shrine, surmounted by a horse and rider, above which rises an elaborate pattern of Scandinavian-style interlace. Two further figures, possible ecclesiastics or Druids, are carved on the sides of the cross together with abstract ornament reminiscent of that appering on 12th century metalwork.

 

 

An Chros 'Thuaidh' - The 'North' Cross.

The so-called 'North' cross has survived relatively intact. Unlike the other crosses on the site, this example does not have a ringed head, but is closely related to them through the use of distinvtiver abstract ornaments. The shaft is though to have originally have accommodated painted ornaments.

 

 

The 'South' Cross.

The broken cross shaft located in the grounds of the cathedral in the 1950s.

 

 

Cross Fragment.

A cross fragment located in the grounds of the cathedral in the 1950s.
 

 

An Chros 'Thiar' - The 'West' High Cross.

A High Cross with a figure on it and ringed head.

Located two hundred meter west of the cathedral, which now houses the other crosses and cross fragment, this cross depicts a crucified christ in long robe, with a satchel or reliquary hanging from his neck. it has been suggested that the gable- like trace appearing low down on the shaft may one have accommodated a stone tomb or shrine located at the foot of the cross.

 

 

 

Information: 3 Full crosses and 2 cross fragments at this location.

Another cross, Cros 'Chil Dalua' - The Killaloe Cross, was removed from Kilfernoran in 1821. It depicts a crucified Christ on one face, surrounded by abstract interlace designs, and is now on display in St. Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe.

 

Measurements: 

Lat.  52°58.1 N  :  Long. : 09°12.8 W

Other Sites close by: Noughaval Celtic Cross ; 

Mythology: 

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