Gortacurraun, Cross slab, Kerry

Gortacurraun / Gort an Chorráin

Cross Slab

This really is an oddity, thoughout the Dingle peninsula you will find cross slabs or pillars in the strangest of places, the Glannagalt cross slab is excellent example. There is no record of an early Christian site anywhere near this location. About 400 metres east of here was the site of Tobereendonny/Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh-Well of the King of Sunday. The cross slab is c.1.5 metres long and lies prostrate within a rectangular arrangement of stone slabs. From a distance it has the appearance of a large corner post shrine. Recently it has been used as a dump for field clearance. I normally prefer to see decorated stones in situ, which is one of the wonderful things about visiting sites in Ireland, in this case I think it might be better if the slab was moved to a museum for protection.

The incised cross, pictured above, with the curious arrangement of stones below.

Gortacurraun / Gort an Chorráin Cross Slab This really is an oddity, thoughout the Dingle peninsula you will find cross slabs or pillars in the strangest of places, the Glannagalt cross slab is excellent example. There is no record of an early Christian site anywhere near this location. About 400 metres east of here was the site of Tobereendonny/Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh-Well of the King of Sunday. The cross slab is c.1.5 metres long and lies prostrate within a rectangular arrangement of stone slabs. From a distance it has the appearance of a large corner post shrine. Recently it has been used as a dump for field clearance. I normally prefer to see decorated stones in situ, which is one of the wonderful things about visiting sites in Ireland, in this case I think it might be better if the slab was moved to a museum for protection. The incised cross, pictured above, with the curious arrangement of stones below.

Situated: About three kilometres west of Annascaul. In Annascal take a right for Ballynacourty. Then first left up the hill. Go about three kilometres. The cross slab is on farmland behind the three bungalows on your left. Discovery Map 70: Q 5649 10153. Last visit June 2021. Longitude: 10° 05' 50.8" W Latitude: 52° 08' 50.3" N Google Map Photos: José Gutiérrez.