Cross-slab, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal

Cross-slab, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal

Standing atop a well-house in Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, County Donegal, this ancient cross-slab offers a glimpse into Ireland's early Christian heritage.

Cross-slab, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal

The slender stone monument measures 74cm tall, 15cm wide, and just 5cm thick, with a distinctive spatulate top that tapers down to a narrow base. Currently supported by a broken socketed stone, the slab sits oriented at 120 degrees, facing 30 degrees south of east.

What makes this particular stone remarkable are the simple linear crosses carved into both of its broad faces, each highlighted with red paint that has endured through the centuries. The cross on the north-eastern face measures 16.5cm tall and 11.3cm across its arms, carved with deeply cut channels that broaden notably at the head and foot, giving the terminals a slightly rounded appearance. The south-western face bears a similar cross, though carved with broader, bolder lines; this one stands 19cm tall and spans 12.5cm across the arms.

These crosses represent a common form of early Christian monument found throughout Ireland, where such markers served both religious and territorial purposes. The application of red paint to highlight the carvings was a practice that helped these sacred symbols stand out against the grey stone, ensuring they could be seen and venerated by passing pilgrims and local communities alike. Today, this modest but significant monument continues to mark its spot above the well-house, a tangible link to the devotional landscape of medieval Donegal.

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Herity, M. 1995 Two Island Hermitages in the Atlantic: Rathlin O’Birne, Donegal, and Caher Island, Mayo. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 125, 85-128. Walsh, P. 1983 The monastic settlement on Rathlin O’Birne Island, County Donegal. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 113, 53-66.
Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal
54.66400548, -8.82541502
54.66400548,-8.82541502
Reachlainn Uí Bhirn 
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