Kilcashel St Connell's Cross/Drumirrin Cross Slab After visiting Inishkeel and learning about the turas from there to Gleanncholmcille we decided to try and locate some of the cross slabs located along the route. We also discovered there was another separate pilgrimage west of Ardara towards Loughros Point. There are a number of cross slabs and a stone cross remotely located in the townlands of Kilcashel, Drumirrin and Newtownburke, all belonging to this turas dedicated to St Connell.
The cross is located on a small hill 300 metres north of Lough Aleen and 100 metres west of Kilcashel graveyard. The cross is about 2 metres tall with small arms indicated. A ring cross is inscribed on the south face. The arms of the inscribed cross terminate with a crosslet. Sadly the cross is leaning badly towards the south east. |
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Theview south with Lough Aleen in the background. |
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There are three cross slabs located at Newtownburke and one at Drumirrin. We ran out of time on this trip but still managed to locate St Connell's cross and the rather poor slab at Drumirrin, pictured below. We also failed to locate the cross inscribed boulder at Laconnell which is part of the Inishkeel-Gleanncolmcille turas, but did find a cross pillar at Doonalt. |
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Situated:From Ardara take the N56 south. Then take the first right turn towards Loughros Point. After 3 kilometres take a right turn towards Kilcashel. Almost two kilometres down this road you will come to a large farmhouse. At the back of the house is a metal gate leading into a field. The cross is about 200 kilometres west from here. Please ask for permission at the house. Discovery Map 10: G 6919 9284. Last visit Sept 2010. Longitude: 8° 28' 44" W Latitude: 54° 46' 57" N Photos: Jim Dempsey, Deb Snelson. |
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