Bealin High Cross

Bealin High Cross, also known as the Twyford Cross, now stands on a small hill in the Twyford demesne. It is thought to have previously been in the old graveyard of the ecclesiastical site, Íseal Chiaráin, (on the grounds of Twyford House.) In the 18^th century the High Cross was removed from the old graveyard by Reverend Richard Handcock. No surface remains are now visible of the ecclesiastical site.

Bealin High Cross is 2.1m in height from its base and 27cm thick, and its north arm is damaged. Only the lower edge of the south side of the ring shows its edges of raised mouldings, similar to the shaft and arms.

On its east face of the shaft are carvings of a lion, birds with coiled tails, and a bird with an ear-lappet and another animal with its tail interlaced in a spiral fashion with the neck of a bird. The head of the high cross had a square panel and a double three-pointed knot of interlace.

On the south side, carvings of a lyre-like design are found with interlace. The west face of the cross include four circular interlacing device, a two-strand interlace with birds of interlocked beaks. The head of the cross shows round knot interlace surrounded by a further circle of single strand interlace. The north side of the high cross shows a hunting scene, a horseman with a crook and a dog biting the hind leg of a stag, all with three-pointed knot interlace. An inscription on the west face in raised letters reads OROIT AR TUATHGAIL LAS DERNATH IN CHROSSA translated as A Prayer for Tuathgail who had the cross made.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014