Ahenny High Crosses, Tipperary

 

Ahenny High Crosses

(Reposted from Posts as a Page)
 

Ahenny High Cross.

In the small rural village of Ahenny in Tipperary are not one, but two beautiful High Crosses.
Ahenny lies in Tipperary but is also quite close to the Kilkenny Border.

Ahenny High Cross.

The Ahenny High Crosses are of a type belonging to a class of High Cross called the
"Ossory group."
These are found chiefly throughout Kilkenny and Tipperary in parts of what was once the "Kingdom of Ossory."

Ahenny High Cross.

The site at Ahenny is called Kilclispeen and there is a plaque inserted into the entrance which reads
" Kilclispeen Churchyard 1843."

Ahenny High Cross.

It's believed the Ahenny High Crosses date from around the 8th Century and that originally a Monastery was located here.

Ahenny High Cross.

There is occasional mention of a Saint Crispen asociated with Ahenny but there are no records of such a figure to be found nor any trace of an early Monastery.

Ahenny High Cross.

There is also the base socket of a third High Cross here at Ahenny so it was obviously a very important early ecclesiastical site.

Ahenny High Cross.

The wonder of places like Ahenny is that today such locations seem remote and sparsely inhabited yet in their heyday they must have had large numbers of Monks living on site with large numbers of people living nearby and in close proximity.

Ahenny High Cross.

Early monasteries were small centres of industry engaged in farming both livestock and tillage, brewing, writing, milling, and possibly carving and metalworking.

Ahenny High Cross

I'm not an archaeologist but there are mention of several monasteries where the Monks numbered in their thousands. To maintain such large settlements would have required considerable self sustaining resources and local trade.

Ahenny High Cross.

The Ahenny High Crosses are very richly decorated and the carvings have survived over 1200 years of Irish weathering.

Ahenny High Cross.

Covered in spirals, knotwork and pictorial representations they are a beautiful monument to the skill of the craftworkers who carved them all those years ago.

Ahenny High Cross.

Some of the Caps on Crosses of the "Ossory group" are thought to represent a Mitre, a type of hat worn by Bishops.

Ahenny High Cross.

With Waterford, Kilkenny and Tipperary so close by as well it makes for a wonderful place to visit and is a very scenic area, well worth visiting at any time of year.

Ahenny High Cross.

Coordinates Here:

52°24'50.7"N 7°23'36.2"W

52.414074 -7.393397


My photo's were taken on a particularly overcast day and don't do the area justice.
 
Kells Priory Here :

Kilree Round Tower and High Cross Here :

Killamery High Cross
and Saint Nicholas' Well Here : 


Suggested Road Trip picture below:

Route