Monasterboice : High Cross
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Visit Notes
Monday, 3rd June 2002
Near to the round tower stands the West or Tall Cross. This cross, that was once called St. Bween's Cross (Weir), stands a massive 6m tall and, although weathered, is quite incredible. The carved panels are of much poorer execution than the best cross here.
In one corner of the graveyard is a cross with the crucifixion on one face and several spirals on the rear. Next to this is a plain cross pillar and a sundial.
Monasterboice's pride and glory has to be Muiredach's Cross. The carving on this is exquisite. The panels include Moses striking the Rock, Adam and Eve & the tree, the Triumph of David, Doubting Thomas (unique in Ireland) and the Flight into Egypt. There is also a fine carving of two mutual beard pullers.
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_Sunday, 13th July 2003
Instead of rushing around and drving many miles this weekend my wife and I ecided to visit some of the 'slow down and take it easy' sites neaer to home. So, Monasterboice seemed like an obvious choice for a starting position, although we arrived later than I wanted to. Surprisingly there was only one coach load of tourists and one car in the car park when we arrived. More were to turn up later.
We stood and inspected the crosses with the help of Harbison's High cross book (see reviews) and then listened to a German guide explaining the cross to her party. She was extremely knowledgeable regarding the panels.
This spot is such a lovely one. The trees of the graveyard hide the impressiveness of the location from you, so take the time to woander around the edge of the graveyard and look over the walls. The low hills rise up behind you, and although these are not high they do obscure the view sufficiently to make the view to the south even more impressive. You get the impression that the site is a lot older than the Christian establishment that now occupies it.
How Other People Have Rated This Monument
| John B from California |  |
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| Uwe from Leinfelden-Echterdingen (Germany) | |
| Tom Fairley from Dromore Down | |
| Trisha from Clarksburg, WV, USA | |
| Anna from Los Angeles | |
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| Paul & Audrey from Dundalk Co. Louth | |
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_Random Gazetteer
A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
1.6 Km (NE) there is a Rock Art at Tinure.
6.2 Km (W) there is a Barrow Cemetery at Mount Oriel (Co. Meath).
8.6 Km (SSW) there is a Passage Tomb at Dowth (Co. Meath).
9.8 Km (SSW) there is a Passage Tomb at Boyne Valley known as Knowth (Co. Meath).
A Selection of Other High Crosses
 Lorrha (Co. Tipperary) |  Galloon (Co. Fermanagh) |  Kilkieran (Co. Kilkenny) |
 Laughlanstown II (Co. Dublin) |  Downpatrick (Co. Down) |  Kells Market Cross (Co. Meath) |
About Coordinates Displayed
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This is an explanation of (and a bit of a disclaimer for) the coordinates I provide. Where a GPS figure is given this is the master for all other coordinates. According to my Garmin these are quite accurate. Where there is no GPS figure the 6 figure grid reference is master for the others. This may not be very accurate as it could have come from the OS maps and could have been read by eye. Consequently, all other cordinates are going to have inaccuracies. The calculation of Longitude and Latitude uses an algorithm that is not 100% accurate. The long/lat figures are used as a basis for calculating the UTM & ITM coordinates. Consequently, UTM & ITM coordinates are slightly out. UTM is a global coordinate system - Universal Transverse Mercator - that is at the core of the GPS system. ITM is the new coordinate system - Irish Transverse Mercator - that is more accurate and more GPS friendly than the Irish Grid Reference system. This will be used on the next generation of Irish OS maps. |
