I went to Kilree to look at another of the ‘Ossory Group’ of crosses and discovered what the author meant when she said, ‘The Irish high crosses give up their mysteries one at a time’.
The cross stands outside a graveyard with a ruined church and round tower. In fact you would miss it if you didn’t trek 150 meters further across a damp field. (I have learned to bring wellingtons on these trips.)
The monastic site itself is worth a visit in itself while the cross, if you find it, has not been treated kindly by the weather.
What makes it, and other Ossary examples, unique is that their simple design of bosses (knobs) and geometric patterns gives them a striking presence. There are human figures at the edges in Kilree but you would need expert help to find them. What surprised me was to learn there was a hunting scene on the base. I remember that I had seen a similar hunting scene at Kilamery and elsewhere.
What had hunting to do on a strictly religious monument? There are a few theories.
Some say it was for economic reasons -- the ruling class loved hunting. However even if they were directly involved at that early stage, sponsoring a hunting scene would be unthinkable in the context.
According to Dr John Soderberg, an archaeologist who studies how people used animals in history, a deer functions as a symbol of Christ.
Irish legends have depicted the righteous king as hunting the sacred deer. Myths told of the hero winning the kingship through success in a deer hunt. His prey is actually a supernatural being in disguise.
So are the hunting scenes a memory from pre-Christian times that was given fresh meaning? Early Irish Christians had no problem in including mythical figures and themes into their world view.
And where better for that to happen than in Ossory, beneath Slievenamon with its memories of ancient kings and other-worldly beings?
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