258 
so that the slab is here pierced through. The length of the stone is 
about 3 feet. 
The next illustrations, Figs. 12,13, represent part of the head of what 
was one of the finest of the large standing crosses in Ireland, and is formed 
out of a single block of granite. It now lies in the graveyard of the old 
church of Dromiskin, county of Louth, the fragment as it stands being 
nearly 4 feet above the ground. Its type is that of the cross radiating 
out of a circle. The carving is remarkably delicate, considering the 
rough texture of the stone. In the centre of the cross is a raised square 
tablet, on which are carved four nondescript monsters, having large 
heads, with their mouths open, and armed with a row of formidable 
teeth ; they are each in the act of swallowing a small fish, whose elon- 
gated tail is curled round the thin extremity of a flexible horn-like pro- 
jection which starts from behind the eyes of the larger animals. The 
bodies of these big animals are prolonged so as nearly to complete a 
circle, and curled round and round each other as they approach the 
centre of the tablet, where they end in a simple interlaced plait repre- 
senting a cross. The centre ofthe upper arm contains a carving in high 
relief, representing two men in the act of feeding a horse, which appears 
carefully covered with a long cloth, fastened across the chest, and falling 
over the back beyond the loins. The first figure carries a vessel like a 
large mether, which he is in the act of presenting to the horse, while the 
figure behind him appears as if soothing and coaxing the animal, his 
arms being extended before him. 
In the compartment formed by the left arm of the cross there is the 
representation of a hound, with his head in the air, as if baying, and on 
the corresponding side is the figure of a man, the head and face of 
which are well carved ; the rest of the body is covered by a loose robe ; 
the legs and feet are wanting. The opposite side of the cross is compa- 
ratively plain, being ornamented by the interlacing of two bands, which 
at the top and intersection of the arms form an ornament of the tri- 
quetra type. The sides of the top arm are decorated with a semi-Greco- 
Irish pattern in high relief, and the outer diameter of the circle with a 
simple plait of three bands. I believe this cross to be of the eleventh or 
twelfth century. 
The next cross, Fig. 14, is also of granite, but of a very different 
class to the former. It stands in the graveyard of Newcastle Church, 
county of Dublin, and is only 4 feet 6 inches high, not including the 
square block of stone which forms its base. At the intersection of the 
arms it bears upon it a small flat cross, of the simplest form, carved in 
relief. 
Figs. 15, 16. These two incised crosses are, I think, attributable to 
the twelfth century. The first is from Castletown Church, county of 
Meath; the next is from the old church of Monksgrange, near Drogheda. 
Fig. 17. This cross is from the townland of Ballyneale, four miles 
from New Ross, county of Wexford. I am doubtful as to what age to 
assign it. Its similarity in every respect, in design, execution, and 
size, to the small cross from the old church of Fahan, near Ventry, 
a nn | 
