Kilkenny Landscape Photography : The Killamery high cross
Killamery High cross Nov 2014
Kilkenny landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
The Killamery high cross
The Killamery High cross is one of the most Iconic high crosses in Ireland, It is used as a model for many of the small high crosses sold across the world as an Irish symbol.
I am very lucky that it is situated in an old graveyard in Kilkenny at Killamery. The cross is one of the western Ossory group of crosses.
The cross stands at 3.65 metres high and the west face of the cross bears most of the figure sculpture. The east face pictured right, is decorated with three marigolds on the shaft and has a boss in the centre of the head surrounded by intertwining serpents with an open mouthed dragon above the boss. The cross is known as the Snake-Dragon cross. The cross has a gabled cap-stone and the narrow sides have double mouldings. At the end of the southern arm of the cross there is a panel depicting Noah in the Ark and the end of the northern arm features four scenes centered around John the Baptist. There is also a worn inscription on the base of the western side of the cross which is said to read as ‘OR DO MAELSECHNAILL’ a prayer for Maelsechnaill. Maelsechnaill was the High King of Ireland from 846 to 862.
The western face has a Sun Swastika at the center and has figure sculpture around the whorl, to the left is a hunting scene and to the right a chariot scene above the whorl is scene showing a figure holding a Baby with another figure to the right of them, below the sun disc is a crucifixion scene. The shaft of this face bears two ornate panels. The top one is a fret pattern and the lower panel is a key pattern.
Nigel Borrington 
Great composition…
November 15, 2014 at 1:24 am
Hello Murray 🙂
Thank you 🙂 🙂 , very pleased that you ike it 🙂 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Dramatic shot as always 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 2:08 am
Hello Arlene 🙂 🙂
Thank you , very pleased you enjoyed this post 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Very interesting Nigel and a great shot! 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 4:44 am
Hello Norma 🙂 🙂
Thank you !! Thank you for reading and liking the post , I often visit here so its great to share 🙂 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Another so typical Ireland photo. I wonder whether there never ever a sun shines or whether it is a certain mood which forces people to just make pictures as the one above. 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Hello 🙂 🙂
Thank you for your comment and like for this post 🙂 🙂 very pleased you enjoyed !!!
Actually we have had a great year for the sun here, its not always like that but this year was very good, I have never been one to put the camera away in bad weather , so some of the images I post here will be captured on days like this one – I Guess !!!
I do feel that as I am blogging here not Just creating a Gallery page , that I am very happy to post pictures taken in any weather and do love capturing the mood changes that this brings, do you think that maybe for this image that the mood maybe matches the subject ?
November 15, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Just a gorgeous image, Nigel. I love the contrasts in color and texture, so beautifully brought out by the dark, stormy sky. The perspective of these structures against the landscape is magnificent! Well done!!
November 15, 2014 at 3:28 pm
Hello Sharon 🙂 🙂
Very very pleased that you liked this post and image – Thank you for adding to them both 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 15, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Love the history and awesome photograph Nigel! The composition and B&W make for a stunning image.
November 15, 2014 at 11:12 pm
Hello Mary 🙂 🙂
Thank you 🙂 , very pleased you liked and let me know 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 16, 2014 at 1:17 pm