Rediscovered Celtic cross stands tall on the church grounds
BURIED CELTIC CROSS REINSTATED AT ST PATRICK’S
THE Long-lost Celtic cross unearthed during construction works at St Patrick’s Church has been reinstated on the church grounds.
The two-metre high cross was uncovered in March by construction workmen carrying out works for a now-completed new car park for the church.
Mystery still surrounds the cross but local legend has it that it was removed from the front of the church in the 1950s and buried, allegedly because of pagan symbols.
The cross now stands in the middle of the new roundabout constructed on the church grounds as part of car park works which took place.
Fr Donal Roche is delighted to see the cross reinstated to its former glory.
‘We never frond the original plinth but James Snell, a stone mason from Arklow, sourced a big granite boulder which he shaped into a plinth for the cross.
‘He did a beautiful job and lots of parishioners have been commenting on how well the cross looks. A lot of our older members of the parish remember the cross when it was first here,’ said Fr Roche.
The layout of the new car park has also been well received by worshippers attending St Patrick’s Church.
‘It has been a great success and has eased up the pressure in the car park during mass times.
‘It has also made the car park much safer. Being able to add the cross is such a lovely finishing touch, It’s great to have it back,’ said Fr Roche.