Banagher High Cross

Late medieval rectangular church (OF021-003001-) located on top of high ground in centre of graveyard (OF021-003002-) enclosed by 19th-century wall. Church has undergone many alterations with addition of bellcote on W gable, insertion of burial vault into W end of church in the 19th-century. Blocked up window in W wall, partially destroyed window at E end of N wall and large pointed E window with brick arch of probable 19th-century date. 16th-century graveslab (OF021-003003-) with floriated cross carved in false relief with roman inscription down both sides located inside the church at the E end. Dedicated to John Coghlan who died in 1590 although the graveslab was carved in 1576, according to the inscription on the slab. Shaft of high cross of 9th-century date removed from churchyard in the 19th-century and now located in the National Museum. Possible holy well (OF021-003005-) which later became town well was located in the market square situated outside the front gates of the graveyard. (Cooke 1875, 315-23; Monahan 1886, 365-9; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 3-6)

Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 25-6) as following: 'A cross-shaft of sandstone which originally stood at Banagher, Co. Offaly, was removed by Cooke around the middle of the last century (1800's). After his death, it was moved to Clonmacnois around 1870, and to the National Museum in Dublin in 1929, where it is now on display with the inventory number 1929:1497. It is 1.47m tall, and its tapering faces and sides have maximum dimensions of 40cm and 19cm respectively. All the corners have small roll moulding, and the panels-which are all of different sizes-are also framed by similar moulding. Damage to the two top side panels was probably caused by a secondary attempt to add a ring. A shallow mortise-hole on top is probably secondary also.

FACE 1 : Panel 1 : Emerging from a single-strand interlace between two animals with backward-turning heads at the bottom of the panel is a two-strand interlace. The top of this interlace coalesces with two figures in profile. The right hand of the left-hand figure grasps the other's left wrist, and their respective other hands seem to touch. The two figures - with their spiky noses - have hair which forms an interlace between their heads.

Panel 2 : A crouching lion with protruding tongue and with its tail between its legs. There is a three-point interlace in the upper left-hand corner and another very irregular, interlace above the lion's back.

Panel 3 : A two-strand interlace.

SIDE 1 :

Panel 1 : two animals one above the other, enmeshed in a narrow band of interlace. The tail of the upper animal terminates in a triangular shape in the centre of the panel.

Panel 2 : A single-strand interlace.

Panel 3 : Interlinking C-shaped spirals forming pelta-shapes, terminating in two outward-turning spirals at the top.

Panel 4 : A damage coiled animal (head missing) with a fish-like tail.

Face 2

Panel 1 : A human interlace with the legs intertwined at the centre and the bodies radiating outwards to the corners. A narrow ribbon winds its way around the arms of the four human figures.

Panel 2 : A deer with its front right leg caught in a rectangular trap.

Panel 3 : A horseman, with hair flat on top and falling to a curl behind, holds a crozier in his right hand which emerges from the folds of his cape-like garment. He has no stirrups, and his legs are placed well forward as the horse prances proudly to the right. Above is a partially-damaged prancing lion with protruding rongue, also facing towards the right. Its tail rises behind, and terminates in two leaf-like shapes.

SIDE 2 :

Panel 1 : A tall panel bearing interlace of various kinds which terminate in animal-heads with rope-like necks and ear-lappets, and with their mouths biting the interlace.

Panel 2 : Very similar to panel 3 on side 1.

Panel 3 : Interlace terminating below in animal-heads which bite the interlace. A broad groove at the top suggests that a ring may have been inserted secondarily to support the arms of a cross'.