Plaster cast replicas of six of Ireland's earliest Christian High Crosses have been put on display at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks in Dublin recently. The exhibition entitled High Crosses at the National Museum of Ireland was officially opened by the Minister for Tourism and Sport Mary Hanafin TD.
According to Dr Pat Wallace Director of the National Museum of Ireland, “the exhibition brings together casts of six plaster High Crosses along with a selection of early Irish Christian treasures. These High crosses will give visitors an opportunity to examine and compare how High Crosses feature scenes, which explained biblical stories to the faithful.”
“They are among the greatest examples of how powerful religious communities supported an encouraged art in Early Christian Ireland.”
The casts include two High Crosses from Ahenny in South Tipperary, two from Monasterboice in County Louth and individual crosses from Drumcliffe in County Sligo and Dysart O'Dea in County Clare.
The centrepiece is the 6.5 metres West Cross from Monasterboice, the tallest High Cross in Ireland.
Dr Wallace also confirmed that more than two million people are believed to have visited a recent High Cross Exhibition at the Japan Expo.
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