Irish High Crosses Photos

Irish Christian crosses are notable as cultural icons and Celtic art. Remaining Medieval examples are stone with carvings of biblical stories framed with traditional Celtic designs such as swirls & knots. Many have stone circles which give structural support to the arms of the cross, giving them an Irish look. Many of these early tall crosses were not built as tombstones, but rather as objects used in teaching Biblical stories outdoors on monastic grounds. In recent times the shape & Celtic art has become popular as grave markers.

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See Also:	Christian Monasteries of Ireland Republic of Ireland Irish Art and Culture


Cross of Scriptures (c10thC) (east face) features Last Judgment in wheel at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Last Judgment detail on Cross of Scriptures (east face) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Christ gives keys to Peter & book to Paul detail on Cross of Scriptures (east face) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Secular panels on Cross of Scriptures (east face) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.

Cross of Scriptures (south edge) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	David as shepherd protected by angel detail on Cross of Scriptures (south edge) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	David playing lyre detail on Cross of Scriptures (south edge) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Lace with eight human heads detail on Cross of Scriptures (south edge) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.

Cross of Scriptures (west face) features Crucifixion in wheel at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Crucifixion carving on cross of Scriptures (east face) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Soldiers casting lots for Christ's garment & flagellation of Christ carvings on cross of Scriptures (east face) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Christ in tomb carving on cross of Scriptures (east face) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.

Carved cat & two faces on figure 8 on edge of ring of Cross of Scriptures at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Carved panels of St Paul & St Anthony above burial of St Paul the hermit on north edge of Cross of Scriptures at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Carved panel of St Anthony or St Michael defeating devil on north edge of Cross of Scriptures at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	South Cross (original) (c9thC) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.

Detail of with crucifixion & five bosses on South Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Rich interlacing detail on South Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Bosses & interlacing detail on reverse of South Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Interlacing detail on North Cross (original) (perhaps 800 CE) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.

Interlacing detail on North Cross (original) at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Carving detail on North Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Carving detail on North Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	Knot detail on North Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.

Human figure detail on North Cross at Clonmacnoise museum. Ireland.	A typical Irish high cross & O'Rourke's Tower at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.	Detailed view of an Irish high cross at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.	Irish high cross, Temple Conner & Temple Finian at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.

Tall Crosses at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.	Tall Crosses at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.	Irish high crosses & Temple Conner at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.	Irish high crosses & church ruins at Clonmacnoise. Ireland.

Tall Cross (West High Cross) & round tower at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Tall Crosses at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Cemetery at Monasterboice with typical Celtic crosses. Ireland.	Carved Muiredach's High Cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.

West high cross (10thC) used by early monks to teach biblical stories at Monasterboice near round tower. Ireland.	Last Judgment carving on West high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Crucifixion side of West high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Crucifixion detail of West high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.

East face of Muiredach's high cross (10thC) once used to teach biblical stories at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Last Judgment with Christ flanked by saved & damned atop Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Adoration of Magi on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Moses striking the Rock on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.

Scenes from life of David on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Eve & Adam with Cain & Abel on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	West face of Muiredach's high cross (10thC) once used to teach biblical stories at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Crucifixion carving on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.

Mission to Apostles on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Doubting Thomas on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Arrest of Christ on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Inscription to Bishop Muiredach flanked by carved cats on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.

Birds in circles carving on Muiredach's high cross at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Modern Celtic cross with shamrocks at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Modern Celtic cross with leaves at Monasterboice. Ireland.	High cross (1897) in cemetery at Monasterboice. Ireland.

Modern Celtic crosses at Monasterboice. Ireland.	Partial cross & round tower at Kells. Ireland.	Tall Cross with biblical scenes at Kells. Ireland.	Carved knots on high cross at Kilfenora. Ireland.

Celtic crosses at Kilfenora. Ireland.	Celtic cross to memory of victims of Armenian genocide at Christ Church Cathedral. Dublin, Ireland.	Celtic cross before ruins at St Andrews Cathedral. St Andrews, Scotland.	Shaft of High Cross (late 9thC) in museum at St Andrews Cathedral. St Andrews, Scotland.

Celtic crosses in churchyard of Church of Holy Rood (St John St.). Stirling, Scotland.	Celtic cross at Dunfermline Abbey. Dunfermline, Scotland.	Celtic cross (c1874) at Dunfermline Abbey. Dunfermline, Scotland.	Celtic cross in memory of Dean Ramsay. Edinburgh, Scotland.

Irish cross monument (1894) to architect John Wellborn Root (1850-1891) in Graceland Cemetery. Chicago, IL. Architect: Burnham & Root, Atwood, Wegman.	Celtic cross monument to McClurg in Graceland Cemetery. Chicago, IL.	Celtic stone cross at Jerpoint Abbey. Ireland.	Detail of Celtic stone cross at Jerpoint Abbey. Ireland.

Celtic crosses near cathedral wall at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.	Grave monuments overlooking countryside at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.	Celtic cross over town & country at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.	Grave crosses overlooking countryside at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.

Small museum with medieval objects at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.	Original St Patrick's Cross (12thC) missing left arm in museum at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.	Plaster replicas of high crosses (800s) from Ahenny in County Tipperary used during world tour (1906) to publicize unique Irish art heritage at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.	Plaster replica (1906) of south high cross (800s) from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.

Details of Celtic knots on (800s) plaster replica of south high cross from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.	Plaster replica (1906) of north high cross (800s) from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.	Details of Celtic knots on (800s) plaster replica of north high cross from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.	God naming animals creation scene (800s) on plaster replica of north high cross from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.

Headless body of Goliath being taken to Jerusalem scene (800s) on plaster replica of north high cross from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.	Christ sending out Apostles scene (800s) on plaster replica of north high cross from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.	Chariot procession scene (800s) on plaster replica of north high cross from Ahenny in County Tipperary at Medieval Mile Museum. Kilkenny, Ireland.