Sleaty Church and High Crosses

Sleaty Church and two High Crosses are found in the centre of a graveyard, and was once the residence of the Bishop of Leinster. The monastery founded here by St Fiac in the late 5^th century was the second monastery founded by him. Sleaty Church is the site of St Fiac’s grave and that of his son Fiacre.

The present church is built of coursed limestone block, except for the east gable, which was rebuilt of sandstone. The limestone block may have been part of the earlier monastery church. On the south wall a splayed embrasure of a window exists and a semi-pointed doorway. The doorway jambs are from the earlier church. An octagonal font, a large granite stone with a deep circular hollow, lies close to the door.

The west High Cross, west of the church, is a plain granite cross, 2.8m tall with no decoration.

The south High Cross, south of the church, is of granite, 1.4m tall and spanning 75cm across the arms. Its west face has a raised ring with a Maltese cross inside. The east face has a raised ring but the carving within is weathered and undiscernible. The shaft also has a raised ring, but no other decoration.

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