Tonaknock Cross facts for kids
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Crois Thóin an Chnoic
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 Location in Ireland
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| Alternative name | Killahan Cross | ||||||||||
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| Location | Tonaknock, Abbeydorney, County Kerry, Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 52°22′59″N 9°41′54″W / 52.383012°N 9.698287°W | ||||||||||
| Type | high cross | ||||||||||
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| Founded | c. 7th century AD | ||||||||||
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Tonaknock Cross is a very old stone cross, known as a high cross. It is also a National Monument of Ireland. This means it is a special historical site protected by the country. You can find it in County Kerry, Ireland.
Contents
Where to Find It
The Tonaknock Cross stands in County Kerry, Ireland. You can find it along the road that connects Ardfert and Lixnaw.
History of the Cross
Early Beginnings
A long time ago, around the 600s AD, a place called Tonaknock Abbey was built here. It was a type of church run by a group of religious people called the Canons Regular.
The Tonaknock Cross was probably put up between the 600s and 800s AD. It is an early example of the tall, decorated stone crosses found across Ireland.
A Broken Arm
There is an old story about the cross. People say that one of its arms was broken by a cannonball. This happened during the Desmond Rebellions in the 1500s. These were a series of fights in Ireland.
Later, the cross was found buried in a field. It was then put back up where it stands today.
What the Cross Looks Like
The Tonaknock Cross is about 3.2 meters (about 10.5 feet) tall. It does not have a lot of fancy carvings. The only decorations are small circles carved into its west side and face. Experts believe it was made around the 800s AD.
