Direction Ireland

Ahenny%20High%20Crosses

Midlands Ireland | County Tipperary

Ahenny High Crosses are situated on the graveyard of the early Christian monastery of Kilclispeen in Ahenny townland, County Tipperary. They are the part of Ossory group, which are amongst the earliest examples of Celtic high crosses in Ireland. Both crosses are ring-emphasized and have a Bishop's miter on the top. The North Cross has a height of around 3 m while South Cross has almost 4 m. They are richly decorated with an intricately carved web of geometrical patterns while the figure sculptures are placed on the crosses bases. The first panel of the base of the North Cross depicts Jesus and six apostles, the second shows a man under the palm tree accompanied by animals and birds (probably Adam being given dominion over the animals), the third and fourth panels show David's battle with Goliath. The first panel of South Cross is divided into two parts by a tall ringed cross. It probably depicts Daniel in the Lion's Den on one side and The Raised Christ on the other. The three remaining panels show horsemen and animals, without it being possible to discern any biblical motif. The crosses were probably erected between the 8th and 9th centuries.

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