crosses historical kilkenny

St. Goban Find is reputed to have been the founder of the original monastery here. Not far from the modern ruined church stands the fine High Cross which has been dated to the 9th century. Both cross and base are richly ornamented with a variety of geometric motifs. The west face of the cross has a stag-hunting scene, a chariot-procession and panels possibly representing the Lord Sanctifying the Seventh Day, and Adam and Eve after expulsion from Paradise. The east face is largely decorated wi...

A 12th century romanesque church consisting of a nave and chancel. The doorway has been much tampered with (possibly in the 16th century when the innermost order of the doorway was constructed). Over the window above the doorway is a sculptured panel showing the meeting of two people-it may have formed part of the original doorway, as at Freshford. Note the worn heads above the doorway; one is said to represent St. Moling, the founder of the church, and the other is said to be St. Fiacre. Th...

The High Cross in the field is one of the most satisfying of the earliest carved Irish Crosses, the interpretation of the symbols still exciting scholars. The worn stone carvings include St. Anthony and St. Paul in the desert; the Temptation of St. Anthony; Jacob and the Angel; a figure flanked by two horsemen and a hunting scene. Strong traditions holds this to be the burial place of Niall Caille MacAeda, High King of Ireland, who died in 846 A.D. The early church was reconstructed in the Mid...