The Laois Cyclist: The Clonygoose Cross and Bullaun Stones, Carlow

The Clonygoose Cross and Bullaun Stones, Carlow

The wonderfully named townland of Clonygoose lies in neighbouring County Carlow within the Barony of Saint Mullin's Lower.

Returning from the nearby beautiful and historic site at Saint Mullin's I accidentally stumbled across Clonygoose when I spotted a sign for its graveyard.

My interest piqued I had to stop and have a short wander around. There are Church ruins here which are listed with the Nave described as pre Norman and the Chancel as medieval.

If this is the case then the Church is a multi period artefact in which parts of it may well have their origins over 1000 years ago, a humbling thought.

The remains of the ecclesiastical building however seem to be divided into different sections with small low walls here and there contained within the chief surrounding walls.

Whether it was altered and its use was changed at some stage I do not know.

It is a substantial building of a medium size, neither extremely large nor small and seems to chiefly consist of granite stone of assorted size.

In the 1980's what appears to be a free standing Latin Cross was found on the site. It may not be a free standing Cross at all and may have had a base at some stage. It's impossible to tell.

The unusual little Cross was a nice surprise to come across and something different from what you might normally come across at old Christian sites.

The Cross has two letters and two Crosses carved onto its face in relief. The letters are T and D so it's possible the Cross was a grave marker at one time, again it's difficult to know.

The Carlow Historical Society describes the lettering having serifs which indicate a 16th/17th century date but once again nothing is certain about this particular Cross.

There are also three Bullaun stones on the site or perhaps more accurately two Bullaun stones and an early granite font or stoup.

This font/stoup I had initially though of as a Bullaun stone however on reflection and looking at the photographs it appears very evenly carved along its edges and somewhat rectangular so it's more likely to have been a font or stoup I think.

There are also several interesting smaller carved Crosses dotted about the graveyard which are grave markers. Many are heavily weathered and somewhat difficult to make out.

The graveyard was well maintained and when I visited a local man was mowing the grass and tidying up the site. It was nice to see the place being cared for and looked after.

So many old sites like this are often forgotten about and overlooked. There are also some small fragmentary pieces of dressed stone dotted about the graveyard which may be from the later medieval additions to the Church.