| Corpus Refs: | Macalister/1949:580 |
| Site: | MBOIC |
| Discovery: | first mentioned, 1744 Butler, I. |
| History: | Roe/1981, 15, argues that the cross remains where it was first noted in a plan of the site by Isaac Butler in 1744. |
| Geology: | |
| Dimensions: | 5.5 x 0.0 x 0.0 (Roe/1981) |
| Setting: | in ground |
| Location: | earliest Roe/1981, 26, provides a map of the site showing the location of the cross. |
| Form: | Cramp sh. A, head 11a, r1 Roe/1981, 27, `This monument...consists of a truncated pyramidal base supporting a shaft surmounted by an open ring-headed cross with small volutes or billets set in the hollowed angles of the intersection of the arms with the shaft. The cross is completed by a house-shaped cap'. |
| Condition: | complete , good Roe/1981, 15 speaks of the cross as 'almost undamaged'. |
| Folklore: | none |
| Crosses: | none |
| Decorations: | animal; boss; figural; geometric ribbon interlace; geometric key pattern; geometric other Roe/1981, 31--43, provides a detailed description of the decoration of this cross, paraphrased below. West Side Base: Abstract work, including circular fret patterns and interlace, with a possible human figure. West Side Shaft: Two seated cats, one with a kitten and the inscription. Also seen are panels with the arrest of Christ, the incredulity of Thomas, and Peter and Paul. West Side Head: Intricate crucifixion scene. West Side House Cap: Uncertain and worn scene involving human figures. North Side Base: rectangular fret motifs and interlacing, also a male rider and two centaurs. North Side Shaft: Two seated fat men accompanied by single and double-strand knot interlacing. North Side Under Ring: Roped moulding; spiral fret; rectangular fret; three portrait heads enclosed in serpentine bodies. North Side Under Arm: The Right Hand of God. North Side End of Arm: Passion scene with Christ seated. North Side Top of Ring: Interlacing. North Side Gable End of Housecap: Saints Paul and Anthony in the desert. South Side Base: interlacing; chariot procession. South Side Shaft: Two monster figures; intertwined human and animal figures; seven triple C-spiral bossed coils; inhabited vine. South Side Under Ring: Interlacing and three heads enclosed by serpentine bodies. South Side Under Arm: Two lions. South Side End of Arm: Pilate washing his hands. South Side Top of Ring: interlace and running fret pattern. South Side Gable End of House Cap: Entry into Jerusalem. East Side Base: Badly worn; interlacing knotwork. East Side Shaft: Two animals; Fall of Man, Death of Abel; David and Goliath; Moses strikes the rock; Adoration of the Magi. East Side Head: The last judgement. East Side Left Arm: Blessed seen on the right-hand of God; choir lead by King David with his harp. East Side Right Arm: The damned. East Side Ring Arcs and Billets: spiral motifs C-curves. East Side House Cap: Cleric holding a cross with a bird-like creature behind him. |
| Macalister, R.A.S. (1949): | O~R~DOMU || RE || DACHLAS | ND || ERN || ADI~ | CH || RO || S[..] Expansion: OROIT DO MUIREDACH LAS NDERNAD IN CHROS[SA] Translation: A prayer for Muiredach (PN) under whose auspices this cross was made. Macalister/1949 31 reading only |
| Roe, H.M. (1981): | O~RDOMU || IRE || DACHLA | SD || ERN || ADIN | CH || RO || S Expansion: OROIT DO MUIREDACH LASDERNAD IN CHROS Translation: A prayer for Muiredach (PN) for whom the cross was made. Roe/1981 27 reading only |
| Orientation: | horizontal |
| Position: | W ; base ; n/a ; separated The inscription is placed around the two cats on the bottom of the West Side. See Roe/1981, Plate V (a). |
| Incision: | inc |
| Date: | 900 - 923 (Roe/1981) |
| Language: | Goidelic (rbook) |
| Ling. Notes: | none |
| Palaeography: | CISP: The inscription is in Insular half-uncial, including one of the Rs and the S, which are often found in there majuscule form. Other than those placed between the heads of the cats, letters are quite broad. Of note are the two Ds with ascenders which bend to the left over the bow, in the second example the ascender then curves upward. The Es are both open and closed, and the D has an open bow. The U has an extended descender and two contraction marks over OR and the final I of line two can also be seen. |
| Legibility: | good Roe/1981, 27: `the lettering remains reasonably legible'. |
| Lines: | 3 |
| Carving errors: | 0 |
| Doubtful: | no |