KILRIFFET High Cross
Situated on SE facing slope of rising ground in upland area with centre of possible ecclesiastical enclosure (TN026-070—-) 100m to the W. Earthfast stone (dims. 1.17m x 1.12m x 0.33m) which may be natural rock outcrop that appears to have been used as a base for a high cross with long rectangular mortise or slot (L 0.84m x 0.13m x 0.12m) cut into surface of rock with at least twelve water-rolled oval or spherical-shape stones jammed into slot. This cross base is very similar morphologically to the cross-base at Carrowmore, Co. Donegal (DG011-049003-). The water-rolled stones are very similar to cursing stones found on early Christian sites at Inishmurray Co. Sligo and Caher Island, Co. Mayo. A shallow depression (0.22m x 0.06m) or bullaun (TN027-170001-) beside the slot indicates that the cross-base was used at some stage as a bullaun stone for grinding purposes. One of these water-rolled stones fits into the bullaun suggesting that this stone was used as a rubber stone for the bullaun. At least thirteen other water-rolled stones of varying shapes and sizes can be seen lying on the surface of the earthfast boulder. Other loosely scattered angular-shaped stones appear to be the remains of field clearance debris. The earthfast stone appears to have had several functions. It may originally have been used as a bullaun stone, which later had a rectangular slot cut into the surface of the stone. The slot may have been cut in order to support a cross of wood or stone. The angular stones may have formed some form of low cairn or leacht around the earthfast stone which could date from the early mediveal period. Some of the water rolled stones may have been deposited at this stone around this period. Alternatively, during the post medieval period the earthfast stone may have been used as a penitential station where pilgrims could have brought more water-rolled stones that were then jammed into the rectangular slot. These stones may have been used as cursing stones by local pilgrims. Interestingly there is no local tradition about people using these stones for such a purpose (Mac Mahon 1981, 35). The field in which the stone is located is known as the ‘kyle field’ (Mac Mahon 1981, 36). Instead of being the result of field clearance debris, some of the angular stones may have formed a low drystone leacht with the slot in the earthfast stone supporting a wooden or stone cross. There are numerous low undulating earthworks in field in which the stone is located. At time of visit there were traces of a possible cropmark to the east and north of the stone which could indicate that there was an enclosing element around this stone although no such enclosing feature shows up on aerial photographs (OSI 2005).
145288,TS05140,HICR,TS061-025062-,TIPPERARY SOUTH,ST. PATRICKSROCK,R135763,607427,640935,52.519734509999999,-7.890566330000000,Cross – High cross,Not indicated,Not indicated,https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CTS061-025062-,Housed in the vaulted undercroft of the college of the Vicars Choral (TS061-025005-). Portion of a high cross base was uncovered by the OPW in 1991 during the removal of an 18th-century wall linking the NE angle of Cormac’s chapel (TS061-025001-) and the chancel of the Cathedral (TS061-025003-). The sandstone fragment (dims. Wth 0.73m; H 0.38m; D 0.12m) appears to have been split from the original base leaving a rough
Monument Type: Cross – High cross