Reask

Reask is a ruined early Monastic site located 1km east of Ballyferriter, County Kerry, Ireland. Nothing remains of the buildings but low walls and a cross-slab standing stone which sits in the middle of the compound. Excavations in the 1990s revealed the ruins of an oratory, four clochans (stone huts), a graveyard and about ten stone slabs, of which one is a particularly fine example.

This pillar measures 0.8 metres in height and is 0.4 metres wide by 0.2 metres thick. Its origin has been estimated by radio-carbon dating as having been between 385 ± 90 a.d. The stone was decorated in early Christian times (c. 7th century) with a Latin cross coupled with bifurcated terminals. The ogham text, set sideways to the cross, reads 'DNE' - D(omi)ne - "O Lord". Standing stones were often decorated by early Christians, primarily to disguise their pagan origins.

ources

* McNally, Kenneth. "Ireland's Ancient Stones". Belfast: Appletree Press, 2006. ISBN 0 8628 1996 2
* Noonan, Damien. "Castles & Ancient Monuments of Ireland". London: Arum Press, 2001. ISBN 1 8541 0752 6
* Fanning, Thomas. "Excavation of an Early Christian Cemetery and Settlement at Reask, County Kerry, 1981, "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy" Vol.81C, p67-172

External links

[http://www.megalithicireland.com/Reask.htm Entry at megalithicireland.com]