Cross-slab, Kilrean Upper, Co. Donegal
In the graveyard at Kilrean, County Donegal, stands a remarkable cross-slab that showcases the intricate artistry of early Christian Ireland.
Cross-slab, Kilrean Upper, Co. Donegal
Located just south of the southwest corner of the church ruins, this stone monument rises 1.57 metres tall and features distinct embryonic cross arms. The western face displays an elaborate ringed Latin cross that dominates the surface, complete with two concentric circles at its centre. What makes this cross particularly fascinating are the geometric patterns at its top and base; square designs composed of interlocking triangles, with smaller triangles nested within, all connected by lines forming a swastika pattern, an ancient symbol that predates its 20th-century associations by millennia.
The eastern face presents an entirely different artistic approach, bearing a cross formed from four pointed ovals. Within each oval, two similar shapes follow the pointed contours, creating a nested effect that demonstrates the sophisticated understanding of design possessed by its creators. The slab measures 0.55 metres wide and 0.1 metre thick, its weathered surface testament to centuries of exposure to Donegal’s Atlantic climate.
The surrounding landscape holds additional archaeological treasures that hint at the site’s long sacred history. Southwest of the graveyard, a curious V-shaped structure built from stone walls measures 8.5 by 6.5 metres, its northern end open and its purpose now lost to time. A holy well can be found southeast of the graveyard, whilst east of the enclosure sits an imposing erratic boulder featuring a carved rock basin, 36 centimetres in diameter and 14 centimetres deep, likely used for ritual purposes. These features, scattered across the rocky, marshy terrain, paint a picture of a place that has served as a focal point for worship and community gathering for well over a thousand years.