Bealin High Cross, County Westmeath

Bealin High Cross

I came across a sign recently while cycling pointing to Baylin High Cross. 

The High Cross in question is better known as Bealin High Cross and is located in the townland of Twyford.

It dates to circa 800 C.E. and was probably commissioned by an Abbot from the ecclesiastical site of Clonmacnoise.

The High Cross is mentioned to have been moved to its present location sometime in the 1700's from an area close by near a Holy Well however it is also mooted as originating at Clonmacnoise and again as originating in an ancient graveyard.

This means that the true origins of the Bealin High Cross remain for the moment a mystery.

The Cross has some wonderful carvings depicting animals, hunting scenes, a mounted horseman and deer and dogs however it is slightly weather worn.

There is also interlaced knotwork and geometric patterns carved onto it. The "Celtic" style upper ring is  badly damaged but this doesn't detract from its overall appearance too much. 

 

The photographs shown here cannot do it justice as it was possibly one of the worst days for trying to take pictures with mist and murkiness all around.

I have read that an inscription on the Cross in Irish reads - A prayer for Tuathgail (Tuathgal) who had this Cross made.

 

On the day I visited it was wet, misty and damp and combined with my lack of glasses I couldn't see much and didn't see this inscription for myself.

I find it staggering that artifacts and antiquities such as this 1200 year old High Cross are dotted about the countryside.

These exquisite Crosses are believed to originally have been brightly painted and many may have been used for instruction or teaching about the various scenes often depicted on them. 

This would chiefly apply to the more elaborate Crosses which have multiple biblical scenes depicted I presume.

A hundred yards up a slight hill and crossing a barbed wire fence will bring you quickly to the site of the Cross. It is well worth a visit if like me you find Irish High Crosses interesting.

Coordinates here:

53.43530876753858 - 7.8449833751170575

Sketch of the Bealin High Cross Carvings by H.S. Crawford.

Keep the wheels turning.

Lorum High Cross Base and Good Shepherd Church

Lorum High Cross

About midway between Bagenalstown and Borris in Carlow lies the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lorum.

I actually have no recollection of how I found myself here other than I must have been travelling somewhere and come across it at some stage.

Described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a "Gothic revival Church of Ireland c.1838" it is a beautiful building which was unfortunately closed when I was passing.

The remains of some stone buildings standing at Lorum are mentioned by various sources as a previous 18th Century Church.

There is also mention of an older Church here which is apparently identified by a low mound with no surface remains visible.

 

Records indicate a Church at this site as far back as at least the 1300's so it's also probable than a previous early Christian era Church existed here and predated even the recorded Church from the 1300's.

Disputed historical references are made to Saint Las(z)arian who is mentioned as stopping here on his way back from Rome but what is apparent is that he does hold importance in the local area. 

There were at least two Holy Wells located nearby of which one is dedicated to the Saint but I am unsure as to their present status and condition.

The outline and base of a Roundtower is purportedly to be found at Lorum but I didn't spot it on my short sojourn and the site was quite overgrown.

Lorum is associated with a presumed 6th Century Saint, Saint Darlugdach. She was a Nun who succeeded Saint Brigid at Kildare and who according to records died sometime between 520 and 525 C.E.

A partial shaft of a High Cross is recorded sitting on a small Cairn somewhere in a nearby field. This too I did not realise nor did I see.

While wandering around Lorum I came across the base of a Cross. The archaeological records describe it as a "Base of High Cross" (CW019-011003).

 

I am left wondering if this Base is a match for the partial shaft located west of the Church (SMR record CW 019-010001).

Keep the wheels turning.

Coordinates here: 

52°39'48.8"N 6°55'45.2"W

52.663544 - 6.929208

Dunleckney Parish- Lorum

IGP - Lorum - Carlow

Good Shepherd Church - Buildings Of Ireland

 

Tonelagee Mountain and the Cross Inscribed Stone, Wicklow.

Tonelagee Cross Inscribed Pillar Stone

 

On top of Tonalegee Mountain in County Wicklow there sits a lone Cross Inscribed Stone.

There seems to be little if any information available about this stone or its origins. Its present situation on Tonelagee mountain would have at one time seemed remote and made access difficult.

Today this is not the case and indeed if you are unlucky enough you may be literally "swamped" on the mountain by ramblers and walkers. There are well worn paths to follow to the mountain top and access is quite easy.

With 360° views of the surrounding hillsides and the beautiful heart shaped Lough Ouler directly below it is certainly a wonderful vantage point from which to observe your environment.

I have seen the Stone at Tonelagee variously described as a Cross Inscribed Pillar Stone, a Cross Inscribed Stone and a defaced Standing Stone.

With little definitive information available its impossible to set in perspective its origins. 

The National Archaeological Database records merely describe it as a "mica-schist pillar inscribed with a Latin Cross on each face".

It is nevertheless worth visiting if only for the views across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains.

 

There are also fine views across the valley to Lough Nahanagan, the Lake of the Otters, and the man made Reservoir above it atop Turlough Hill which draws water from the lake to power the ESB Hydro-electric plant.

Keep the wheels turning.

Coordinates here:

53°03'15.5"N 6°22'58.7"W

53.054310 - 6.382965