Ahenny

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The high crosses
The north cross

The village of Ahenny ( Irish : Áth Eine ) in the south of County Tipperary in Ireland emerged in its current form as a workers' settlement in the neighboring Ormonde & Victoria quarries. The quarries, closed in 1935, used to be the main source of slate mining in the region and some of the most important slate quarries in the Republic of Ireland. The low stone houses stand on just two streets that make up the entire village.

The high crosses of Ahenny

The main attraction of Ahenny are the two stone crosses in the cemetery, which belong to an originally adjacent, completely demolished monastery (Kilclispeen, with St. Crispin's Church). The two sandstone crosses (north and south cross) belong to the Ossory group, the oldest group of ring crosses in Ireland, which are said to go back to either wooden (which seems possible in South Tipperary) or even metallic models.

In addition to the Ossory group, there are z. B. the

While the south cross is 3.9 m high, the north cross measures 3.13 m. The age of the two crosses is controversial. For a long time they were considered relics of the 8th century, now they are more likely to be assigned to the middle of the 9th century. Figurative representations are only attached to the oversized pedestals. The shaft, the arms of both crosses and their rings are decorated with Celtic ribbon symbolism (braided pattern). The hat-like coverings of the crosses are unusual, with that of the southern cross being damaged.

Ahenny stone

The Ahenny Stone is located at the two high crosses . This tombstone, erected in 1802 for a 17-year-old girl, also has an incised Ogham inscription , the use of which on tombstones at the beginning of the 19th century is a special feature.

literature

  • Helen M. Roe: The High Crosses of Western Ossory. Kilkenny 1976.

Web links

Commons : Celtic Crosses  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 52 ° 24 '43.4 "  N , 7 ° 23' 40.9"  W.