Addergoole (Carrowntowmush), Galway

I Location

Site Location
Addergoole (Carrowntowmush)
National Grid Reference
11M 45 64
County
Galway
Type of building/monument
Graveyard

II General Description

Cross head leaning against the W wall of the old graveyard.

III Exterior Features

4. Other

(i) cross head

Cross head, unfinished.

Cross head, unfinished.

The crucifix is roughly blocked out and appears to be unfinished. There is the rough outline of a figure on the front, with extended arms and the head leaning to the viewer's left (Christ's right). The 'armpits' between the arms and shaft of the cross are irregularly cusped and stepped, and the top arm of the cross appears to lean to the viewer's left (Christ's right). Of granite.

Dimensions
h. 1.35 m
w. 1.25 m
d. 0.38 m

VII History

The cross is said to have been brought to its current position from a site on the top of a quarried hillock about 100 m W of the churchyard (Harbison, 1992).

VIII Comments/Opinions

The date of the cross is uncertain and it appears to be unfinished, although the shape of the head and manner in which the Christ figure has been roughed out is similar in form to the 12thc. market cross at nearby Tuam.

IX Bibliography

  • Crawford, H., ‘Some Crosses not mentioned in the List of Irish Crosses’, JRSAI, 38, 1908, 182.
  • Crawford, H., 'Supplementary List of Early Irish Crosses’, JRSAI, 48, 1918, 176.
  • Sexton, E.H.L., A Descriptive and Bibliographical List of Irish Figure Sculptures of the Early Christian Period ,Portland, 1946, 47.
  • Visser , G. et al, Die Ierse kruisigingsikonografie van 7de tot de 13de eeuw, Utrecht, 1981, II, 2.
  • P. Harbison, , The High Crosses of Ireland , Bonn, 1992, 9-10.