Kilnaurane pillar stone

Just been dithering for about half an hour between two possible blips - good god woman, does it matter, just get on with it!!

Well today's offering is a view of the Kilnaurane pillar stone (the alternative was a close up so I can save that for another occasion!). This majestic if rather forlorn stone stands in a muddy field high above the hills over-looking Bantry bay. It is commonly believed to be a pillar stone ie the decorated trunk of a Celtic cross - the arms and other bits still litter the ground. What is magical and unique about it are the carvings. On this side, the south-east you can just make out a cross in the middle, above seems to be an angel and below the experts have identified St John and St Anthony (??? quite how I don't know!). On the north-west side is something remarkable - the earliest carving in Ireland of a boat - it's going up the pillar and may refer to Jesus and the fishermen. At the very top,  now almost impossible to see, are four animals with horns interlocked - this image is now the symbol of the Sheepshead. It dates from around the 9C and was probably knocked down by the Vikings!! Close ups of all this will follow!!

There is a rather nice story about a group of Dutch tourists who went to investigate the stone, were busy taking photos and when they looked up saw they were completely surrounded by cattle. Irish cattle are very bold!! Their only solution  was to ring the gardai (police) who duly came and rescued them! This story was retold to much amusement in pubs in the area.

Much work has been done on the mural today and everyone has participated, even the smallest. Tomorrow and Wednesday the bugs go on, then I have to do a bit of tarting up and we should be finished!