Lorrha Church and High Crosses

Lorrha church is dedicated to St Ruadhán, son of Ferghas Bearn of the Uí Dhuach clan. The Annals of Innisfallen record the death of Cu Chaille, son of Cennetaig, King of Musgraige in 1037AD after Cu Chaille was slain in front of the stone church of Lorrha. The church is rectangular, 11.1m north-south and 18.3m east-west, with projecting antae at both ends. Lorrha church was the priory for the 13^th century Dominican priory. The insertion of a barrel vaulted ground floor at the west end allowed for a priest’s room overhead. This upper level had a twin-light ogee-headed window with a mural stairs giving access to the upper floors. The south wall has a 15^th century pointed doorway with hollow chamfer and carved motifs, including vine leaves, a pelican drawing blood from its breast, and a rose motif. Above the existing doorway, an earlier arch can be seen with a carved head at its apex, and capitals decorated in carved foliage dating to the 12^th and 13^th At first floor level towards the east gable, three windows and a fireplace exist. The current Church of Ireland was added to the east gable of the church in 1813 using stone taken from the Dominican priory. Taken from the old church and now on display in this 19^th century church are three carvings, including a 13^th century male figure and a winged Dominican prior.

The north-west high cross, furthest from the church, is 1.17m tall and decorated with interlaced panels and associated figurative/biblical scenes.  This high cross has only a decorated base and shaft stump remaining. The east face lower register shows in false relief two lion type animals, and a man with-out stretched arms. The upper register with its fretwork panels has roll moulding edges and a procession of animals. The shaft is very weather worn but at least two figures can be made out. The south side of the north-west high cross is weather damaged but believed to be a depiction of Adam and Eve and The Sacrifice of Isaac. The west face is divided into three panels with a procession of animals, and is much worn. The north side, weathered, had two panels with an animal procession visible.

The south-east high cross, with its stepped top, is 1.22m tall, and all four of its sides show interlace carvings. The base has a depiction of Daniel in the Lions’ Den and The Hill of Calgary. All that remains of this high cross is the base and part of its shaft. The iconography is much worn away. The remains of the two high crosses, dating to the 8^th or 9^th century, are in the surrounding graveyard.

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