Kilree High Cross

On a flat-topped hill, surrounded by pasture. The cross is within a small enclosure with a metal fence which rests on a stone platform which surrounds the stone. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 45), the name Kilree is derived from Cill Ruidhche, after St Ruidhche, a female saint who is commemorated on the 8th of February. A pre-Romanesque church (KK027-004401-) and round tower (KK027-044003-) are located 50m to the E and NE respectively. A sandstone ringed-cross (H 2.15m; Wth 1.09m; shaft Wth 0.45m; T 0.35m) with a tenon at the top but no cap stone, which stands on a stepped base (dims. 1.15m x 1.08m; H 0.5m). The centre of the E and W faces of the cross head are similarly decorated with a large domed boss surrounded by a ring of broad interlace contained by a roll moulding. Beneath the roundel on the W face, there is a horizontal panel which has been interpreted as the adoration of the Magi (Harbison, 1992, vol. 2, 134) and as Daniel in the lion’s den (Richardson and Scarry 1990, 43). There is a raised boss at the top of the shaft beneath this figurative panel. Each arm of the W face is decorated with a boss surrounded by a spiral coil, the top arm having an additional spiral above. The arms on the E face are decorated with a hunting scene and procession of horses (ibid.). The S-facing terminal of the S arm is divided into four figurative panels with a circle at the centre. The upper scenes are uncertain though for the top left Harbison (1992, vol. 2, 133) suggests Salome dancing and he suggests a lion for the top right; the bottom left is variously interpreted as St John the Baptist embracing Christ (ibid.) and as Jacob and the angel (Richardson and Scarry 1990, 43) while the bottom right is interpreted as the beheading of John the Baptist (Harbison 1992, vol. 2, 134) and as David and the lion (Richardson and Scarry 1990, 43). The segments of the ring have roll mouldings enclosing panels of interlace. The decoration on the shaft is described by Harbison (1992, vol. 2, 134-5). The lower E face of the shaft is decorated with a fluid fretwork pattern and the upper with a dense fret-spiral. The W face, though worn, consisted of two separate sections, the upper one forming circles of different sizes. At the centre of the top of the upper panel there is a small domed boss. The S side is divided into three panels by vertical ribs, the left is too worn to identify but the middle panel contains fretwork and that on the right interlace. The N side is similarly divided in three, the side panels being decorated with fretwork and spiral scrolls and the middle panel with interlace. The base of the cross is also decorated but is very worn. On the lower step Harbison (ibid.) identified stepped decoration on the E face, meander decoration on the S side and possible angular decoration on the W face, while on the upper step he identified a panel of negative and positive squares arranged to form sunken squares and T-shapes on the N side and suggests there may have been figures on the S face.

(National Monument no. 76)