Killinaboy’s disappearing and re-appearing tau cross

What is a tau cross? Why did this monument keep getting moved? Where is it now? And what do its carvings mean?

A T-shaped or tau limestone cross was originally sited on the brow of Roughaun Hill in north Clare, set into rock on the side of the Corofin–Ballyvaughan road. Located 2km northwest of Killinaboy medieval ecclesiastical site, it is traditionally linked with this church.

The arms of this unusual cross curve slightly upwards and at the end of each arm, on the upper surface, is a face carved in relief. These now weathered faces are identical, possibly hooded and positioned with chins towards the centre of the cross. They are separated by three raised ridges.

The shaft of the cross tapers slightly from the crossing to the base. It is incomplete. A fragment of cross-shaft was recovered not far from Roughaun Hill, but it does not fit onto the main portion of the shaft and so it is assumed that an intermediate section is still missing. The cross now stands to a height of approximately 0.9m but is believed to have measured between 1.5m and 2m (5–6ft) when complete.

What is a “tau” cross?

The cross from Roughaun Hill is one of a small number of medieval monumental tau crosses in Ireland, the most well-known example of which is found on Tory Island, Co. Donegal. “Tau” is a T-shaped letter in the Greek alphabet, which was symbolically important to early Christians for several reasons. For instance, Christ’s crucifixion cross was sometimes depicted as tau-shaped (i.e. it lacked the uppermost arm of a typical cross).

Over time, the tau symbol became most closely associated with St Anthony of Egypt, who, it is believed, used a tau-shaped crutch in the latter years of his life. By the medieval period, tau-shaped croziers were being used by some high-ranking clergymen and had been introduced to Ireland by the 12th century.

The monument from Roughaun Hill and a number of other carvings in the north Clare area seem to depict the same tau crozier, probably a highly venerated object that attracted the attention of sculptors (the crozier itself seemingly no longer survives). On this basis, it has long been accepted by experts that this tau cross from Roughaun Hill is an early medieval monument, likely dating to around the 12th century.

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The moving cross

The cross was moved several times, firstly in 1866/67. The individual who removed the cross from its original site was well known locally. His interference angered many, including the then landowner, George FitzGerald, who considered obtaining a search warrant to aid in its recovery.

Genealogist George Dames Burtchaell examined the cross in 1893 after it had been found by the then-current occupier of Ballykeel House, Thomas Murray, “under some barrels in the yard”. It is believed that the cross had been stolen by a previous occupant of the house (later the home of the Blake-Foster family). Noted Limerick antiquarian T.J. Westropp bemoaned the treatment of the cross stating that it was “throw[n] … into an out-house, out of sight and memory, for fifteen years”. But, fortunately, Thomas Murray was most anxious to have the cross restored to its former location.

Murray enlisted the help of Rev. John R. Copley, Dean of Kilfenora and Dr George MacNamara, the latter having seen the cross in situ as a boy. Along with a team of locals, the base of the cross was uncovered still in its original location. On 3 March 1894 MacNamara, aided by some workmen, placed the cross into its original base. Writing in 1900, MacNamara declared:

“I placed the cross with my own hands in its ancient resting place, never again, let us hope to be desecrated or removed.”

A photograph taken in 1898 shows the cross back in its original location. Within a few short years, accounts started to emerge denying that this was the original cross but most scholars dismissed these unfounded claims.

Sadly MacNamara’s hope was not realized and the monument was again removed from Roughaun Hill in 1967. For some time it was on display in Clare Heritage Museum, which is housed in what was St Catherine’s (Anglican) Church in Corofin but this is seemingly no longer open to the public. The tau cross was made a national monument in state care and a replica has been erected at the original site on Roughaun Hill.

Marking the boundaries

This cross is one of the most remarkable medieval boundary markers in Ireland. In its original position, it almost certainly marked the boundary or “termon” of Killinaboy medieval ecclesiastical estate. Notably, the placename “Termonkilleneboy” appears northwest of “Killoneboy” on the Co. Clare map of the Down Survey undertaken in 1656–58.

Further placename analysis offers more clues about the original function of the cross. It has been suggested that Roughaun, the name of the townland from which the tau cross originated, could derive from the Irish “radhabh” (Old Irish “robud”) meaning “warning signal”. This makes sense when we consider that the cross served as a monumental warning that you were now entering or exiting church lands.

The Ordnance Survey letters, written in 1839, recall that two other crosses marked the outer limits of the ecclesiastical estate. Both crosses were recorded as long since “disappeared” but their former locations were well known. One was sited just west of Killinaboy in the townland of Elmvale, formerly called Crosseaghter / Crossougter from the Irish “cros iochtar” meaning “lower cross”. In 1839, Elmvale House was still known by locals as “Tigh na Croise” (“House of the Cross”).

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The other cross was formerly located southwest of Killinaboy in the townland of Crossard, the name deriving from the Irish “cros árd” meaning “high cross”. Interestingly on the Inchiquin barony map of the Down Survey (1656–58), “crosse” is marked close by to “Tormonkillinboy” in the general area of the adjoining townlands of Elmvale and Crossard.

Also of note is Bishop Worth’s statement in 1666: “The lands of Killinaboy were anciently divided into 5 proportions, called Cooleavnagh”. The three crosses could relate to some of these divisions. The two missing crosses from Elmvale and Crossard were probably carved at the same time as the tau cross.

It has been suggested that the original roadside location of the tau cross serves as a reminder that the modern road follows a similar path to a medieval routeway. This section of the road corresponds to the “Bóthar na Mac Ríogh” (the King’s Sons Road). This road was probably frequented by pilgrims travelling between the important early church sites of Killinaboy and Kilfenora. And the cross may have operated as a wayside marker directing travellers, as well as offering a suitable place to rest and pray.

The original site is near a cashel or stone-built fort called Cahermore, in which a souterrain (underground passageway) was recorded. Both the cashel and the souterrain are probably early medieval in date. This clustering of early medieval monuments emphasizes the importance of this location. 

Confusing names

In the past, the cross was known variously as “Cros Innawee”, “Cross Innywee”, “Cross Ennewee” and “Cross Inneenboy”. These names derive from “Inghean Bhaoith” literally meaning “Daughter of Baoth”. Inghean Bhaoith is considered the founding saint of Killinaboy church site, the name for the church in Irish being Ceall Inghine Baoith. The name “Innerwee” / “Ennewee” was still given to girls born in the parish well into the 19th century.

But what was the actual name of Baoth’s daughter? Although the name has been long forgotten locally, it was preserved in a medieval poem as Fionmhaith (elsewhere garbled as Findelua / Finicula / Findchlu).

Interpreting the carvings

This cross has roused curiosity in the minds of many scholars over the past 200 years or so. One story held that it was erected in memory of the reconciliation of two individuals following a quarrel. In 1808 Hely Dutton claimed that,

“… they met and shook hands, and in commemoration of the event a cross was erected on the spot. The appearance of it gives some degree of probability to the story, for there are two faces in relief looking towards each other on the top of the cross, and two hands in the middle like those in the act of shaking hands.”

We don’t know if Dutton actually visited the cross, but both his account and drawing have been widely criticized and ridiculed as fantastical. The Ordnance Survey letters of 1839 state that the local residents had never heard this story and yet it was propagated in future publications. For example, in 1878 Canon Dwyer declared that the cross “set on permanent record the reconciliation of the two great families of O’Brien and Quin after some fierce feud”.

While the ridges are sometimes still interpreted as clasped fingers, others are adamant that no such hands are depicted.

MacNamara believed that the two faces were those of females, each wearing a coif (a type of cap worn underneath a nun’s veil), which he linked with the tradition that Killinaboy church site was the foundation of a female saint.

In the early 20th century, some scholars believed that the cross was a pagan idol. This included Adolf Mahr (Director of the National Museum of Ireland and group leader of the Dublin branch of the Nazi party), who incorrectly asserted that it could be part of the La Tène tradition.

But by 1967 another noted archaeologist, Etienne Rynne, had firmly placed the origins of the cross towards the end of the early medieval period. Indeed the carved faces are often compared to Romanesque voussoirs. This parallel, coupled with the fact it probably represents an early medieval crozier, means that the cross can be quite confidently dated to about the 12th century.

Given that St Anthony is believed to have carried a tau-shaped staff, Dr Peter Harbison has suggested that the carved faces could represent this saint and his disciple St Paul of Egypt. Whatever the real meaning of these carvings, they will undoubtedly continue to mystify all who stop to ponder their mysterious, almost expressionless faces. 

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