High Crosses or Celtic Crosses as they are also known, are found throughout Ireland on old monastic sites. Along with the Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow, these High Crosses are Irelands biggest contribution to Western European Art of the Middle Ages. Some were probably used as meeting points for religious ceremonies and others were used to mark boundaries. The earliest crosses in Ireland were made of wood and metal and probably much smaller than the great stone monuments we see today. It was generally accepted that the Western Ossory group were amongst the earliest examples of High Crosses to be found in Ireland. Their design imitates the wood and metal crosses before them; but a recent study suggests they may not be 8th century but possibly mid 9th century. These crosses are mainly found within a few miles of each other at Kilkieran, Kilree, Killamery and the finest examples at Ahenny. The majority of scriptural crosses are also believed to have been erected around the 9th century and there are several local groupings: the North Leinster group includes Kells, Monasterboice and Duleek; the Midlands group includes Clonmacnois Tihilly and Durrow; and another distinct group of granite High Crosses are those of the Barrow valley that includes Castledermot, Graiguenamanagh, Moone, St Mullins and Ullard.

Irish High Crosses

Some of Irelands most celebrated High Crosses

 

Ahenny Tipperary

Ardboe Tyrone

Bealin Westmeath

Boho Fermanagh

Carndonagh Donegal

Cashel Tipperary

Castledermot Kildare

Castlekeeran Meath

Clogher Tyrone

Clonca Donegal

Clones Monaghan

Clonmacnois Offaly

Devenish Island Fermanagh

Donaghmore Tyrone

Downpatrick Down

Dromiskin Louth

Drumcliffe Sligo

Duleek Meath

Durrow Offaly

Dysert O'Dea Clare

Fahan Mura Donegal

Fennor Meath

Finglas Dublin

Glendalough Wicklow

Graiguenamanagh Kilkenny

Kells Meath

Kilbroney Down

Kilfenora Clare

Kilgobbin Dublin

Kilkieran Kilkenny

Killaloe Clare

Killamery Kilkenny

Killary Meath

Kilmokea Wexford

Kilree Kilkenny

Kinnitty Offaly

Lisnaskea Fermanagh

Lorrha Tipperary

Monaincha Tipperary

Monasterboice Louth

Moone Kildare

Old Kilcullen Kildare

Roscrea Tipperary

St Mullins Carlow

Termonfeckin Louth

Ullard Kilkenny

 

 

 

Map showing the location of the High Crosses

Most of the High Crosses featured above are earlier than 1200 AD and nearly all bear figure sculpture. There are other Irish Crosses and Early Christian sites featured on the megalithic pages, some of these crosses are listed below. To see a list of all the Crosses, Abbeys, Churches, Oratories, and Tomb shrines featured on Megalithic Ireland Click Here.

 

Adamstown Wexford

Aghowle Wicklow

Ballymore Eustace Kildare

Balrath Meath

Burgage More Wicklow

Carrowmore Donegal

Clonmore Carlow

Dunnamaggan Kilkenny

Fassaroe Wicklow

Ferns Wexford

Fore Westmeath

Inishkeel Donegal

Killiney Kerry

Kilmalkedar Kerry

Kiltuck Dubln

Laughanstown Dublin

Nurney Carlow

Skreen Meath

Taghmon Wexford

Temple Brecan Galway

Thomastown Kilkenny

Tybroughney Kilkenny

 

 

 

Jim@megalithicireland.com

help support the site by shopping below

My Amazon.Com Store

My Amazon.Co.UK Store

 

   

Irish High Crosses

Latest Update May 2021

Click here to View a slideshow of some of Irelands High Crosses