Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Prime examples of high crosses can be found in Kells, County Meath.
Carved stone brought stories from the Bible to life for people in mediaeval Ireland. In the nineth century, the monstery of Kells served as a refuge for a community of Christian monks from the island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland. Viking raiders forced them to flee, and they brought their style of stone carving with them. Examples of the work can be seen on the high cross near Kells round tower.
Not all high crosses have survived intact, but much information can still be gleaned from what remains, and shaped the vision of the artists. The broken cross at Kells has panels depicting biblical scenes, including one which illustrates two sources of the river Jordan, taken from a book on the Holy Land by Admnán, second Abbot of Iona.
An unfinished cross at Kells offers an example of how the carving was executed. The stone was carved on site, with different sections worked at different intervals.
Today Kells market cross is at the centre of the town, but in the ninth century it was located at the eastern gate of Kells monastery. The passing of time and exposure to weather may have softened the stone, but this early mediaeval cross still retains a carving with a full and rich appearance.
'Radharc : High Crosses’ was broadcast on 22 June 1981.
The narrator is Peter Lemass.
'Radharc', a series specialising in religious programming, was produced for RTÉ by Radharc, an independent production company run by Catholic priests and lay staff.
'Radharc' can be translated to English as 'view'. Founding director Fr. Joseph Dunn put together a team of priests, some of whom had received training in television production in London and New York in the late 1950s.
The 'Radharc' team made their first production in 1960 in Donegal, a short film about customs relating to St Brigid's Day. The first programme in the 'Radharc' series for RTE was broadcast on 12 January 1962.
Between 1961 and 1996 the Radharc team would produce over 400 hundred films from Ireland and around the world. The films often dealt with issues relating to peace and justice both at home and abroad.
The popular religious affairs series ended production in 1996 after the death of Fr Joseph Dunn.
Prime examples of high crosses can be found in Kells, County Meath.
Carved stone brought stories from the Bible to life for people in mediaeval Ireland. In the nineth century, the monstery of Kells served as a refuge for a community of Christian monks from the island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland. Viking raiders forced them to flee, and they brought their style of stone carving with them. Examples of the work can be seen on the high cross near Kells round tower.
Not all high crosses have survived intact, but much information can still be gleaned from what remains, and shaped the vision of the artists. The broken cross at Kells has panels depicting biblical scenes, including one which illustrates two sources of the river Jordan, taken from a book on the Holy Land by Admnán, second Abbot of Iona.
An unfinished cross at Kells offers an example of how the carving was executed. The stone was carved on site, with different sections worked at different intervals.
Today Kells market cross is at the centre of the town, but in the ninth century it was located at the eastern gate of Kells monastery. The passing of time and exposure to weather may have softened the stone, but this early mediaeval cross still retains a carving with a full and rich appearance.
'Radharc : High Crosses’ was broadcast on 22 June 1981.
The narrator is Peter Lemass.
'Radharc', a series specialising in religious programming, was produced for RTÉ by Radharc, an independent production company run by Catholic priests and lay staff.
'Radharc' can be translated to English as 'view'. Founding director Fr. Joseph Dunn put together a team of priests, some of whom had received training in television production in London and New York in the late 1950s.
The 'Radharc' team made their first production in 1960 in Donegal, a short film about customs relating to St Brigid's Day. The first programme in the 'Radharc' series for RTE was broadcast on 12 January 1962.
Between 1961 and 1996 the Radharc team would produce over 400 hundred films from Ireland and around the world. The films often dealt with issues relating to peace and justice both at home and abroad.
The popular religious affairs series ended production in 1996 after the death of Fr Joseph Dunn.
