Galloon High Cross, Fermanagh

Irish High Crosses

Galloon

Very little is known about the early history of this site, but traditionally it is believed St Tighernach founded a monastery here in the 6th century, before establishing the monastery, the one he is mostly associated with, at Clones. It is believed St Comgall was left in charge of the monastery at Galloon. Within an ancient graveyard are the scant remains of a medieval church and two highly decorated cross shafts with their bases. Also present in the graveyard is a large collection of 17th/18th century gravestones, some bearing momento mori. Fragments from two cross heads were also found in the graveyard, one of these two heads is now missing, as is the centre of the other head, fragments of the arm are in storage at Enniskillen.

East Cross

The east cross stands 1.2 metres high and sits in a plain base stepped step. There are four panels carved on the west face. Starting at the bottom panel they are described as follows: 1. Sacrifice of Isaac, 2. Two interlaced knots, 3. Three figures representing Moses, Aaron and Hur, although Harbison suggests it may represent, The Resurrection. And finally the top panel bears four interlaced circular knots. The east face, pictured below left, bears three iconographic panels. The bottom panel features, the Adoration of the Magi. The middle panel bears, the Baptism of Christ and the top panel represent, St Paul and St Anthony receiving bread from the raven. The south-side bears a fret pattern and bosses. At the bottom of the north-side are, two figures embracing, and at the top are two more figures, one of them is blowing a trumpet, below these figures are two animals, the carvings on this side are open to interpretation.

West face

East face

Two figures kissing, North side

The Resurrection or Moses, Aaron and Hur

West Cross

The west cross also stands c.1.2 metres high and sits in a trapizoidal-shaped, stepped base. It has a wide collar around the top of the shaft, similar to the Ardboe high cross. The east face, below left, bears three iconographic panels. Harbison has identified the bottom panel as the Baptism of Christ but it could represent a number of biblical scenes. The middle panel is definitely a depiction of Daniel in the Lion's Den and the top panel is also an excellent depiction of Adam and Eve. The west face also bears three panels 1. The Three Children in the Fiery Furnace. 2. The Sacrifice of Isaac and the top panel, Noah's Ark. The north-side, below right, bears six bosses at the bottom, a possible Frog or Toad in the centre and two weathered figures at the top. The south-side has an inscription at the bottom with two figures above it, in the centre are another two unidentified figures and at the top is the figure of a man and an animal. The panels on the collar are two worn to identify, in the the top of the collar is a surprisingly large mortice hole.