The circular mound, measuring just over two metres across and standing three quarters of a metre high, might easily be overlooked if not for the remarkable cross-inscribed slab that crowns it. This ancient monument, catalogued as DG080-014001, represents one of many early Christian markers that dot the Irish landscape, though time has not been entirely kind to this particular example.

The stone slab itself tells a story of both artistry and misfortune. Originally standing nearly two metres tall, the sandstone monument has broken in two, with only the lower portion remaining in its original position atop the cairn whilst its upper half now rests alongside. When reconstructed, the full slab would measure 1.98 metres in height, just over half a metre wide, and a mere nine centimetres thick. The eastern face bears the decoration: a quartered circle containing a Greek cross, with the central line extending downward beyond the circle before expanding into a circular groove surrounded by an outer band. This design, typical of early medieval Irish stone carving, likely dates from sometime between the 7th and 12th centuries.

The location itself adds another layer of significance to the monument. Glencolumbkille, named after St. Columba (Colmcille), has long been associated with early Christianity in Ireland, and this cross-slab forms part of a broader archaeological landscape that includes numerous other religious and secular sites throughout the valley. Standing in what local records describe as fair pasture land, the cairn and cross continue to mark this spot as they have for generations, a tangible link to the valley’s medieval past and the communities who once gathered here for worship and commemoration.