The Cooley Cross is located just outside the perimeter walls of an ancient graveyard near Moville. This is an early example of a High Cross and dates to the 8th century AD. The cross stands 10 feet high, is plain, and has an odd-looking hole on its top. This hole is thought to have contained a peg serving as a ‘gnomon’ for a rudimentary sundial and so the vertical shadow indicated the hour of noon. There is a cross with a similar hole on the greater Aran Island where the vertical shadow line is marked. At the base is a large flat stone containing a crude representation of a human foot, traditionally ascribed to St. Patrick himself. These types of hole-stones date back to pagan times and are thought to be used during marriages when couples joined hands when making vows.
Info courtesy of the curiousirelandwebsite
The Skull House is believed to be the resting place of Moville’s local Saint Finian.
Pictures from a different time. Yet they seem like from a different world to me.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the assembly of the stones. They stood against the weather all the time. "Impossible" to build anything like that today...
God bless...
ReplyDeleteThe stones render the scene so original.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures
ReplyDeleteLa cruz parece un tanto inclinada. La construcción de piedras hace un buen acompañamiento, en ese hermoso paisaje.
ReplyDeleteFeliz domingo
Wonderful photos capturing history.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
When you get right down to it a good deal of pagan iconography and practice was incorporated into Christian ritual.
ReplyDeleteAs you would probably guess, I really enjoyed this glimpse of the past.
ReplyDeleteIf only the stones could talk...goodness!
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
That stone house looks really interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill.
ReplyDeleteI like these stones.
Greetings from Patricia.
...stone will last forever!
ReplyDeleteLooks cool indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the rich history with these amazing photos. Such a wonderful Sunday post!
ReplyDeleteOut of the proverbial mists of time.
ReplyDeleteLove the cross, the stone house and landscape and the pretty sky capture! Take care, have a happy day and a great new week!
ReplyDeleteCool place.
ReplyDeleteLove the cross, which may have had a practical use with sun shining through that hole...perhaps even marking solstice and equinox times.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. I have been to Inis Mor but didn't see that cross. Shoot. It reminds of the story The Orkney Stone, in which couples would join hands through the hole on All Hallows Eve, to plight their troth.
ReplyDeleteI love the way they made that Stone House, that's not going anywhere anytime soon. Very cool pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe history in your part of the world goes so much deeper than in the states.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this interesting post Bill
ReplyDeleteInteresting history in the stone cross and building. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteA nice bit of Irish lore today, Bill.
ReplyDeleteLovely to learn the stories and local legends, Bill.
ReplyDeleteJust amazing that they are still standing and in as good a condition as they are.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely and historic Irish cross. I did not know about the hole, but I accept your explanation.
ReplyDeleteI love places like this. Thanks for sharing a little bit of history with us :)
ReplyDeleteI love walking through old cemetaries and taking photos of headstones. The ones for children always make me so sad though.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, and loved the information about the cross.
ReplyDeleteInteresting structures.
ReplyDeleteMe gusta la cruz. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMe gusta la cruz. Te mando un beso. https://enamoradadelasletras.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteFunny how these things are so old that accurate information on them is not available.
ReplyDeleteWow
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting Bill.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered what the holds were for, Ive only seen a few of those here.
ReplyDeleteThis is so very interesting and beautiful. It makes me want to hop a plane and head to Ireland!
ReplyDelete