Market Cross Base Kells, co. Kilkenny.

The Market Cross Base,  Kells,  co Kilkenny

This base is now in the field approaching the village of Kells from Stoneyford; the Market Cross originally stood in the centre of the town of  Kells.   What remains is a round plinth set in a wider round base.

Looking at the base in the early morning light of day there seemed to be an impression of feet of carved animals walking around the base.

 

The plynth is most likely morticed and tenoned into the base and the plynth appears to be a darker stone whilst the base is limestone.

The plynth is morticed to take the tenoned upright shaft of the Cross but no other remains have ever been found.
Richard Lahert in his book The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Dunnamaggan  (1956) writes that the original site of the Market Cross was on the road opposite the laneway leading to the graveyard and known as Boithrin na gCorp, or the little road or Boreen of the Corpses.  He says that the cross was probably erected to commemorate the chief festival of Kells, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  The date of its removal to its present location is unknown.

 

 A recent rubbing we did here suggests a procession of Horses but only the legs and part of their underbellies remain to be seen.   

We thank Marie Lee for this short film of the rubbing.