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Early Christian Sites in County Clare Ballyallaban Ballyvaughan Bishop’s Island The Burren Caherconnell Clooney Corcomroe Crumlin Doonbeg/Killard Drumcliff Drumcreehy Dysert O’Dea Glencolumbkille Holy Island Keelhila Kilbaha Kilcameen/Cill Caimin Kilcorney/Cill Choime Kilfarboy Kilfenora Kilkee Killaloe Killaspuglonane Killilagh Killonaghan Kilmacreehy Kilmihil Kilmoon Kilnaboy Kilnamona Kilrush Kilshanny Kiltacky/Cill Taice Kilvoydan Liscannor Mutton Island Noughaval Oughtdarra Oughtmama Rath Ross Scattery Island Templecronan Templeline Toomullin Tuamgraney Tullaher |
St. Fachtna (6C) founded a monastery here. There are some famous High Crosses here; there were once perhaps 7 of them, earning the name of Kilfenora as the ‘city of the crosses’. The 12C Doorty Cross and the North Cross are in the Cathedral, and 2 Cross shafts and another Cross with them. The West Cross is in an adjacent field. There is also a Holy Well. The East face of the Doorty cross has a carving of a bishop with mitre and crozier with his hand pointing down. This may well represent St Peter given that a bishopric was established here in 1152 by the Synod of Kells in the Roman manner. Below are 2 figures in hooded robes with croziers (one with an Irish crozier, the other with a Tau shaped crozier) representing the powers of the local hierarchs the bishop and abbot, thrusting down a winged creature is on top of 2 humans. The south face has a figure holding a book; at the bottom is a crudely carved head with a beard The West Cross has a robed Christ triumphant holding what might be a shrine or reliquary One High Cross is now in Killaloe Cathedral (qv) There is also a Holy Well Irish Monasticism, Cross Slabs and High Crosses, Holy Wells and Holy Trees see The Burren Kilfenora the City of the Crosses A Ramblers Guide and map, esp. under ‘Christianity’ and Kilfenora 
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