Historical Postcard Collection: Roscrea - St. Cronan's Church
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: Ros Cré – Séipéal Chrónáin
In the late 6th Century Saint Cronan, the patron of Roscrea, established a monastery at Sean Ross, about a mile outside the town. The monastery, however, was in a remote location and difficult for pilgrims to find. Cronan, therefore, sought to move his religious settlement to the main highway, the Sligh Dála, and it was around his new monastery that the town of Roscrea grew. It was here that the famous Book of Dimma was created, along with its precious and ornate cover, and many other 8th - 12th Century manuscripts and carvings produced here gives one the image of St. Cronan's being a feverishly busy hub of activity. Also in the grounds of the monastery is the High Cross of St. Cronan, a sandstone ringed cross that dates from the 12th Century. Carvings on the monument show images of an ecclesiastic (possibly Cronan) and a representation of Adam and Eve, along with animal interlace carvings.
Ornate Romanseque Architecture
The Church of St. Cronan dates from the 12th Century, and its style of architecture is typically Romanesque. In 1812 much of the building was demolished to make way for a road that cut right through the Church, leaving only the west gable and short lengths of the nave intact.
In the remains that survive today close comparisons can be made between St. Cronan's Church and Cormac's Chapel on the Rock of Cashel, the latter being widely acknowledged as the country's best preserved Romanesque building. In both can be seen chevron designs, rounded arches, steeply pitched eaves and blind arcading. Left and right of the ornate doorway at Roscrea are two blind arcades, and over the door is the figure of an ecclesiastic, probably representing St. Cronan. At either side are the carvings of rosettes. Added to the gable is the bellcote (bell housing) which was added to the Church in later years. Also modified at this time was the slope of the roof, which would, originally, have been of a much steeper gradient.
Sources – Cunningham, "Roscrea and District"; OPW, "Urban Archaeological Survey"
Read more about:
- St. Cronan's Church
- Franciscan Friary
- The Round Tower
- Mount St. Joseph Abbey
- Roscrea Castle
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last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:16 GMT
Déanach sa 6ú hAois, bhunaigh Crónán Naofa, éarlamh Ros Cré, mainistir sa ag Seanros, míle nó mar sin ón mbaile. Bhí an mhainistir sách fada amach ón mbaile go raibh sé deacair ar oilithrigh teach uirthi. Mar sin, bheartaigh Crónán a lonnaíocht reiligiúnda a bhogadh go dtí an Slí Dála, agus ba timpeall ar seo a d’fhás Ros Cré. Ba anseo a scríobhadh Leabhar Dimma, lena chlúdach lómhar ornáideach, mar aon le mórán eile lámhscríbhinní agus snoiteáin ón 8ú – 12ú hAois a léiríonn chomh gnóthach agus a bhí an áit. Ar thalamh na mainistreach tá Ardchrois Naoimh Chrónáin, crois ghaineammhcloiche ón 12ú hAois. Tá snoíodóireacht ar an gcrois a léiríonn duine eaglasta (Crónán, b’fhéidir) agus Ádhamh agus Éabha, mar aon le hainmhithe thart.
Ailtireacht Ghalánta Rómhánúil
Is as an 12ú hAois Séipéal Chrónáin agus tá an ailtireacht Romhánúil, mar ba ghnáthach. Scriosadh an chuid ba mhó den tséipéal in 1812 chun bóthair a chuir tríd, ní raibh fágtha ach beagán den chorp agus den bhinn.
Sna hársaí a mhaireann inniu is féidir comparáisd a dhéanamh idir Séipéal Chrónáin agus Séipéil Chormaic ar Charraig Chaisil, an foirgneamh rómhánúil is mó atá fágtha in Éirinn. Sa dá cheann acu feictear dearadh rachtáin, áirsí leathchiorclacha, sceimhleacha géara agus stuaraí caocha. Ar dheis agus ar chlé amach ón doras ornáideach i Ros Cré ta dha stuara caoch agus os cionn an dorais tá fíor eaglasta, b’fhéidir Crónán féin. Ar an dá thaobh tá roiséid snoite. Curtha leis an mbinn, tá an cloigtheach, a cuireadh ann níos déanaí. Déanadh athchóiriú chomh maith ar fhána an dín, a bhí níos géara roimhe.
Foinsí – Cunningham, "Roscrea and District"; OOP, "Suirbhé Seandalaíoch Urbach"
Léigh níos mó faoi:
Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:16 GMT