Kilkieran High Crosses, group of high crosses in County Kilkenny, Ireland
Kilkieran High Crosses is a group of sandstone crosses from the 9th century set within a medieval graveyard on the site of an old monastery in County Kilkenny. The three main crosses and fragments show different styles: the West Cross features horsemen and interlace patterns, the Plain Cross has no decoration, and the Tall Cross has a slender frame with vertical panels.
The crosses date to the 8th century and belong to the Ossory group, a collection of early medieval stone crosses from the Irish region. A broken cross head was later reused as a doorway lintel and is now kept at Jerpoint Abbey, showing how ancient materials were repurposed across generations.
The West Cross displays scenes of horsemen and Celtic knots that reveal how people lived and what mattered to them in medieval times. These carved images show that religious faith was expressed through everyday scenes and decorative patterns that had personal meaning.
The crosses sit in a quiet graveyard next to a medieval church and are easily reached by a short side road from Carrick-on-Suir. The site is unmanaged with no guides or visitor facilities, so approach the weathered stones respectfully and watch your footing as you walk among them.
The West Cross features an imperfect section of carving where part of the Celtic pattern is irregular, rarely seen in such ancient works. This imperfection may reflect the skill level or intention of the medieval stonemason and gives the cross a more human quality.
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