Round Tower and Muirdeach Cross, Monasterboice, Co. Louth

Round Tower and Muirdeach Cross, Monasterboice, Co. Louth

Cross

Round Tower

Lantern slide depicting a cross and round tower in Monasterboice, Co. Louth. Originally titled 'Monasterboice Cross & Round Tower' and labelled 'L5 20'. The monument is found in an old monastic settlement in Monasterboice. The tower is thought to have acted as both a refuge for monks from Vikings, and as a bell tower. The contents of the tower, including a library, were destroyed in a fire in 1097. The slide shows the East face of the cross of Muirdeach, so named by the individual for whom the cross was erected for. The West side of the cross, not depicted in the slide includes a prayer for Muirdeach, which indicates that the cross was either created by Muirdeach, or at his request. It is thought that the Muirdeach referenced was an abbot in the monestary, Muirdeach Mac Domhall. The engravings on the East side of the cross show scenes from various Christian parables, including David slaying Golliath. In the image, a small figure, most likely a child, can be seen standing to the left of the cross.

Holly Cooper

The Discovery Programme

The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (RSAI)

image/tiff

EN

Image

RSAI, Lantern Slide, BOX 33

BOX33_020

11/01/17

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

RSAI Lantern Slide Collection

114.3mb

7559 x 7559 pixels

Lantern Slides

Country: Ireland

County: Louth

Logainm County Code: http://www.logainm.ie/100021.aspx

Townland: Monasterboice

Logainm Townland: https://www.logainm.ie/34018.aspx

Irish National Grid East: 304347

Irish National Grid North: 282034

Position Source: www.logainm.ie

Latitude: 53.777612

Longitude: -6.4177054

Place: Monasterboice, Co. Louth Latitude: 53.7875134 Longitude: -6.416300399999955

The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (RSAI)