Kilfenora Cathedral and Crosses
Photo: Andreas F. Borchert · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross - High cross

Kilfenora Cathedral and Crosses

Disused cathedral in Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentIn State care
  • DateNot stated
  • FolkloreNone recorded
  • PhotoWikimedia Commons
Kilfenora, Co. Clare52.99077, -9.21679
Directions Map

Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

  • TypeCross - High cross
  • Condition (as surveyed)Ruined
  • StatusNational Monument

What to look for

  • Carved scenes
  • Ring

Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.

Can you visit?

  • No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
  • Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
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History and description

Erected c. 2006 in the NE corner of the ‘sacristy’ or N transept of Kilfenora Cathedral (CL016-015002-) due to weathering. Not listed in the SMR (1992) or the RMP (1996).

Full archaeological record 177 words

Erected c. 2006 in the NE corner of the ‘sacristy’ or N transept of Kilfenora Cathedral (CL016-015002-) due to weathering. Not listed in the SMR (1992) or the RMP (1996). According to de Paor (1955, 59) the fragment was found the previous year in the graveyard and was mounted in the ruined chancel. The upper part of the shaft and the bottom segment of the ring of a ringed cross. The shaft is rectangular and tapering and the sides are undecorated. Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 116) describes the ‘West face’ (now facing S into the body of the transept) as having ‘interlacing forming circular devices above which is a segment of a circle of interlace, suggesting that it may have formed part of the decoration of the ring of the head’. He describes the ‘East face’ (now facing and close to the N wall) as having ‘square panels of interlace, each subdivided into four, and beneath them, a thick-banded interlace. There are roll-mouldings at the corner.’ (ibid.) This is a national monument in state care, no. 8.

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Mary Tunney · Updated 24 September 2018. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

More high crosses nearby

Also recorded nearby

Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.

  • Noughaval Round TowerRound tower · Noughaval (Burren By.) · 3.7 km · official record
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      Around Kilfenora Cathedral and Crosses

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 42.7 km · nearest point 0.5 km
      • Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 4Road Cycling Trail · 46.4 km · nearest point 5.4 km
      • Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 2Road Cycling Trail · 37.5 km · nearest point 7.2 km

      Outdoors, towns and places to stay

      • Gragan's WoodForests · 7.7 km
      • LahinchBeaches · 11 km · Good Quality (2025)
      • FanoreBeaches · 15 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
      • Ballyteigue Nature ReserveNature reserves · 5.1 km
      • Keelhilla, Slieve Carron Nature ReserveNature reserves · 18 km
      • Inchiquin HouseHistoric stays · 11 km
      • Newpark HouseHistoric stays · 23 km

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