Tucked into the hedge, halfway down a boreen (from the Irish bóithrín, meaning ‘a little road’) that leads to the remains of Robertstown church and graveyard, County Meath, is this old stone cross. Much weathered, and missing part of its shaft, the cross’s south face bears a carving of Christ’s crucifixion and, at the base, an inscription dating from 1685 and advising that it was first erected during the reign of the ‘SOVERAIN LORD KING JAMES THE SECOND BY THE GRACE OF GOD.’
What an interesting ‘find’. Surprising that it has survived so long, thank you Robert for recording it.
The Irish ‘bóithrín’, is from ‘bothair-ín’ meaning ‘a little road’ and has its etymology in Proto-Celtic ‘bo-itros’, literally ‘cow path’.
This cross seems to be missing a head from the top. It presents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in a manner which I have never seen before. At the top without a head we have the father overseeing everything, Jesus the son is at the bottom facing the rigours of this earthly life and the Holy Spirit joins them together. A lesson to us now- with the Holy Spirit, we will get through the Covid 19 epidemic in safe hands.
What a lovely thing to come across and mysterious too.
How fascinating,and so hidden away. Would love to know more about it .Thank you Robert