Lantern slide of Tau Cross

Lantern slide of Tau Cross

monument

Tau cross

Lantern slide of a Tau cross in Tory Island, Co. Donegal. The slide has been originally labeled 15 and titled 'Tau Cross, Torey Island'. There are a number of men pictured at what seems to be an excavation site.At about the mid point on the S side of Tory Island is a settlement called West Town clustered around a small bay. This settlement includes within it and close to it the remains of the early ecclesiastical complex on the island (National Monument number 24). The available literature seems to refer to several structures and monuments no longer visible. In particular the Civil Survey of 1654-56 (Simington 1937, 114) refers to 'five churches almost ruined' only one of which seems to survive. Literary references to Tory appear to begin in the 7th century and continue throughout the early and later medieval period indicating its ecclesiastical nature (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 46).

At the head of the pier at West Town is a T-shaped or Tau cross carved from a single block of stone. It is 1.9m high, the shaft is .4m wide, the cross is .15m thick. The head of the cross is 1.1m wide and 0.35m deep.

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In this instance the entry has been revised and updated.

RSAI Lantern Slide Collection: Box 05

The Discovery Programme

The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (RSAI)

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BOX5_029

Scanned to 2400 dpi , 16 bit greyscale image with automatic exposure

RSAI Lantern slide collection

7559 x 7559 pixels

Lantern slides

Country: Ireland

Town/ townland: Tory Island

Logainm code: http://www.logainm.ie/14500.aspx

Area: County Donegal

Logainm code: http://www.logainm.ie/100013.aspx

Irish National Grid East: 85157

Irish National Grid North: 46537

Latitude: 55.264775

Longitude: -8.226894

The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (RSAI)