Killary High Cross

On the road from Kells to Ardee is the site of an early church and the remains of a medieval parish church. Kilavery Church is listed in the ecclesiastical taxation of 1302 CE. It is believed the church may be connected to St Iberius/St Ibar of Beggerin in Wexford. It is believed he had an association with St Abban of Adamstown, Wexford. In the graveyard stands the shaft of a High Cross and the base and fragment of another. According to a leading Irish archaeologist the east face bears iconographic panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. These include, Adam and Eve, the Sacrifice of Isaac, Daniel in the Lions' Den and Noah's Ark. The Panels on the west side feature iconography from the New Testament. These include, the Baptism of Christ, the Annunciation to the Shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi. The images are very weathered and some are difficult to make out. There is a cross base and the arm of another High Cross in the corner of the graveyard. I hope to return to Killary in spring 2019, to record the individual panels.

Situated: From Ardee in Meath head SW on the N52 for about 9 Kilometres. Turn left at Donoghues Bar. Then 4.5 K turn right for Lobinstown. The site is 1 K down here on your right, behind a farmgate.

Group: North Leinster.

Google Map.

Discovery Map: 42 N 879 830. Last Visit: May 06.

Longitude: 6° 39' 58" W

Latitude: 53° 47' 23" N

Nearest High Crosses featured on this website.

Kells: 16 Kilometres West.

Monasterboice: 16 Kilometres East.

Termonfeckin: 26 Kilometres East.

Photos: Jim Dempsey.