St. Kevin's Cross

Situated S of the cathedral along the E wall of the enclosure surrounding the Priest's House within the main monastic complex is a granite cross (H3.35m; Wth across arms 1.17m) which rises from its own expanded base and has an imperforate ring.

Described by Leask (1950, 20) as ‘this monolith of granite is of the ring, `Celtic', form. It measures 11 feet [3.35m] in height and 3 feet 10 inches [1.16m] across the arms. While the ring is slightly sunk on each face it is not perforated. The stone, 12 inches [0.3m] thick at the base, tapers to 11 inches [0.27m] at the top while its shaft, which is 17 inches [0.43m] wide, enlarges to 22½ inches [0.55m] at the base for a height of 19 inches [0.48m]. To what depth it is set in the wall has not been ascertained. The position of this cross, almost central in the east wall of the ancient cemetery, indicates that it was a sermon or boundary cross’.