Location: Arboe Point, Ardboe Townland, Moortown, Co, Tyrone, Ireland.

Access: By Road, with parking Facility, located by the roadside at the entrance to the Ardboe Abbey and graveyard..

Description: This Cross is made up of the pieces of three different crosses, maybe 4. The base is from one cross, the stand from another different cross, and the cross itself from a third different cross, and the cap maybe from a forth cross. Many of the crosses in Tyrone, where pieced together from other cross, with alot of bases being left with no crosses for them.

Traditional Lore: This cross stands in the area of the early monastery of Ard-bo, associated with Colman Mac Aed, who probally lived in the 6th century. Little is known of the site's history until the 12th century. In 1103 Murchadh Ua Flaithecain, a scholar of Ardboe, master if learning, liberality and poetry died, and in 1166 the site was burned. The medieval parish church stood on or near the monastery's site and is represented by the ruin in the graveyard.

Information: The cross is the Finest of the Ulster group of figure carved crosses and one of the finest in Ireland, despite its damaged head and the weathering of the sandstone. It is unusually tall, with an open ringed head and a distinctive 'collar' on the shaft where two pieces of stone join. The figure carving shows a rich scheme of bibical scenes within edge mouldings.

On the east side are old Testament scenes, from the base Adam and Eve, Scrifice of Isaac, Daniel with Lions, Children in the Fiery Furnace. a mass of figures surrounding one with a bell and crozier, Christ in Glory on the head with scales and flames of hell below (representing judgement).

On the west side are the New Testament scenes; Adoration of the Magi, Miracle at Cana, Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, Entry to Jerusalem, Arrest of Christ and Crucifixion, with three figures on each arm.

On the south (narrow) side from the bottom are Cain killing Abel, DFavid fighting the Lion, David and Goliath, the desert saints Paul and Antony fed by raven.

The interpretation of the north side is less clear; the bottom scene may be the Baptism, with the Slaughter of the Innocents above.

Many of the Ardboe scenes are found on other Ulster crosses, for example Armagh, Donaghmore, Camus, and Clones, and it seems clear that Armagh was the main centre of influence. The crosses testify to a high level of craftsmanship in stone that the Irish people had.

Lat. : 54 36.8'N  Long. : 06 30.5' W

Other Sites close by: Dromore Hill Standing Stone Tamlaght Standing Stone Tamlaght Chambered Grave Stewartstown Standing Stone

Last Updated - August 28, 2023