155 



monuments the religious veneration of the people. Of those' stoiies 

 which have been sanctified by means of sculpture, one or two 

 more examples, selected from tlie vast number that exist, will be 

 sufficient to cite. In Camus church-yard there is a pillar-stone 

 raised upon a base, consisting of two deep stones, the uppermost of 

 which is ornamented by a projecting moulding all round : the pillar 

 is divided by bands into four compartments, each of the three lowest 

 containing three figiu'es, but the upper one is plain.* oioin' vUrr^'i 



At the church of Dysart O'Dea a curious pillar now lies prostrate, 

 on which the figure of St. Monologh is carved, holding his crozier ; 

 the head is <;ut upon a separate stone, so that it is removeable at 

 pleasure ; this pillar is highly reverenced, being called the cross of 

 St. Monologh,-!- who possibly added the stone head to the original 

 shaft, both to complete the figure, and to do away the pillar 

 character. - 



This first step of giving shape to, or carving the original pillar- 

 stone, was quickly followed by the erection of stone crosses of great 

 size, and enriched with much beautiful sculpture. Crosses of this 

 kind have been so often described that it would be a waste of time 

 to dwell upon them farther than to mention, that the finest iu" 

 Ireland are said to be those at Monaster Boice, county of Louth. J 

 These are three in number, of which one, the cross of St. Boyne, 

 is a single block of eighteen feet in height, upon which is carved 

 in relief a representation yet distinctly traceable, of the history of 

 the world from the temptation to the crucifixion. Those at Castle 



• Survey of Londonderry, p. 483. ." 'vf-J 



f Survey of Clare, p. 352. 



4: Archdall's Monasticon — Wright's Louthiana, where they are well represented. — Sir R. C. 

 Hoare's Tour in Ireland, p. 293. 



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