St. Mark's Cross

St. Mark's Cross
Native name Ardchros Naomh Marcas (Irish)
St Baoithin's Cross
Type	High cross
Location	Burgage More, Blessington, County Wicklow, Ireland
Coordinates	53°09′41″N6°32′29″W / 53.161499°N 6.54141°W / 53.161499; -6.54141
Area	Liffey Valley
Height	4.2 metres (14 ft)
Built	12th century AD
Location of St. Mark's Cross in Ireland
National monument of Ireland
Official name	St. Mark's Cross
Reference no.	280 [1]

Carving at the base of the cross, reading "1400"

St. Mark's Cross is a high cross and National Monument located in Blessington, County Wicklow, Ireland. ^{[2] [3]}

Location

St. Mark's Cross is presently located at the south wall of Burgage cemetery, Blessington, 600 m (660 yd) west of the River Liffey. ^[4]

History

St. Mark's Cross was erected in the 12th century next to a church and holy well in Burgage More. In the 19th century, it was also known as Saint Baoithin's Cross. The original site was submerged during the creation of Poulaphouca Reservoir, and the cross was moved to Burgage cemetery. ^[5]

Description

The cross is made of blue-grey granite and stands 4.3 metres (14 ft) high. Like nearby St. Kevin's Cross in Glendalough, St. Mark's Cross was made from a single piece of granite. ^[6] The cross has an unpierced ring, unlike most Celtic crosses, and unusually long arms. There is a decorative boss in the centre of both faces. On the base of the cross is a weathered inscription. ^[7]

See also

• A "massive" broken high cross in the townland of Ballintubber, near Blessington. ^[6]

References

1. "National Monuments of County Wicklow in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 1. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
2. "History".
3. "St. Mark's Cross - Wicklow County Tourism".
4. "St Mark's Cross, Blessington, Wicklow".
5. "St Mark's Cross Blessington « Pilgrimage In Medieval Ireland".
6. Corlett 2011, p. 28.
7. "Prehistoric and Early Ireland @ megalithomania.com - Burgage Cross, County Wicklow (St. Mark's Cross)". Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

Sources

• Corlett, Chris (1 June 2011). "The Abandoned Cross at Ballintubber, Hollywood, Co. Wicklow". Archaeology Ireland. 25 (2). Dublin: Wordwell Ltd.: 26–28. JSTOR   41550059.