Monasterboice Monastic Site, Co Louth

A monastery was founded at Monasterboice by Buite who died in 521. This monastery remained in existence until 1122 although none of the structures on the site is older than the 9th century.The Vikings occupied the monastery for a time until they were attacked by Domhnall, King of Tara, in 968 and one of its most learned monks, Flann, died in 1056. The Round Tower was burned, along with the monastic library, in 1097.

Muiredach's Cross

The importance of Monasterboice lies in the fact that it contains two complete High Crosses and several fragments. The finest of these is the South Cross or Muiredach's Cross, which gets its name from an inscription on the base of the west side of the shaft saying that it was erected by Muiredach, who has not yet been positively identified. However it may be the abbot Muiredach Mac Domhnaill who died in 923. The cross is 5.5m high. On the east face can be seen the Fall of Man, and Cain slaying Abel; David and Goliath; Moses smiting the rock; the Adoration of the Magi; Christ in Judgment surrounded by good souls, bad souls and Archangel Michael weighing souls, and at the top, St Paul and St Anthony in the desert. On the west face are Christ mocked by the soldiers, the Risen Christ, Christ with St Peter and St Paul, the Crucifixion and the Ascension, with the Resurrection on the south arm. The narrow sides and ring of the cross contain many pictorial and decorative panels including the Hand of God and Pilate washing his hands. The capstone is a separate stone carved as a small church with finials at either end of the roof.

The West Cross

A short distance away is the West, or Tall Cross, which is 7m high. This is also richly decorated but the carvings are less well preserved than those on Muiredach's Cross and the shaft has suffered some damage. The carvings on the east face include David killing the Lion, the Sacrifice of Isaac, Moses smiting the rock, David and Goliath, and the Three Children in the Fiery Furnace. On the west face are the soldiers guarding the Tomb, the Baptism of Christ, the Mocking of Christ, the Kiss of Judas and the Crucifixion.

The Round Tower

Near the east side of the graveyard is a fragment of a High Cross with a Crucifixion on one side and an intricate roundel on the other. Beside it is the broken shaft of another cross and a sundial. The Round Tower is complete apart from its cap. It is about 25m high and has six storeys plus basement. The round-headed doorway is about 2m above ground level. There is a double band of raised moulding which extends from a raised panel in the middle of the top stone and down both jambs. In the graveyard there are also two medieval churches.