One of Ireland's finest surviving High Crosses, the shaft and ringed head were carved from one piece of sandstone around 900 AD. The cross, 4 metres high, stood to the west of the cathedral. Its surface is divided into panels with figured scenes. The Crucifixion, the Last Judgement and Christ in the Tomb are Biblical in origin but the lowest scene on the east face of the shaft shows an ecclesiastic and a warrior holding a pole. This has been variously interpreted but may represent Abbot Colman and King Fiann who erected both this cross and the Cathedral. The badly damaged inscriptions on the east and west faces at the foot of the shaft have been reconstructed and appear to mention both King Fiann and Colman, who made the cross for him.

Also a ringed cross about 3.7 metres high, the South Cross is covered mostly with abstract ornament in the form of interlacing, fretwork, spirals and bosses. It has a crucifixion scene in low relief usually placed on the shaft rather than on the cross-head itself. In style it appears to be related to the Ahenny group of crosses and could date from the early 9th century.

Only the shaft and base of this cross survive. The base is a reused millstone: the shaft, of limestone, is carved on three sides only with abstract ornament, human interlace and animals. The style has been compared with the Book of Kells and a date of around 800 is likely.

Some details of the fine stonework and metalwork found at Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise has a large collection of grave-slabs dating from about the 8th to the 12th century, a small selection of which are on display in the Visitor Centre. These are carved with different forms of crosses and most have an inscription giving the name of the person commemorated.

A number of finely decorated metalwork objects have been found on or near Clonmacnoise.

The Stowe Missal

The Crozier of the Abbots of Clonmacnoise