Replica of 16th century stone cross to be erected in Navan

Bronze replicas of the last remaining pieces of the high cross of Navan are to be placed on plinths in the middle of town this week as part of the Market Square upgrade works. A motion by Cllr Shane Cassells at the end of last year proposed making bronze casts of the stone, which is a segment of the original high cross from the 16th century and is now housed in Collins' Museum in Dublin. The pieces were made after casts were taken of the stone by Meath artist Orla de Brí. This remaining stone of the ancient cross was found by WF Wakeman in 1849 and removed to the Royal Irish Academy. The stone rescued by Wakeman is 22 inches in height and eight inches square. References to the Baron of Navan, an Elizabethan costume, the arms of the Nangles and depictions of mortality adorn the four sides of the stone. Judging by the slender shape of the stone, the cross seems to have been a tall pillar, carved or inscribed on each side, with perhaps a small ornamental cross at the top. At the bottom is a small dowel hole about an inch square while at the top the stone tapers so as to fit a socket in a stone or cross-bar above. The cross was later replaced by a pump, which, as old Navan people would know, has long been taken away. According to Cllr Cassells, this project will restore a part of Navan's physical history in the centre of the town. “The pieces are a fantastic link to our past and the historical significance of putting these castings in the middle of our town is immense,†he remarked. “I hope that the people of the town enjoy seeing a part of our past being brought back to life. Orla de Brí has really done a fantastic job producing these replicas,†he added. “As the town progresses, it is very easy to lose sight of where we came from and this has provided us with a chance to put a small piece of our history back at the centre of our town. I would like to pay tribute to Ethna Cantwell, Joe Smyth and John O'Grady from the Navan Historical Society for all their help with this project, as well as town clerk Shane Donnelly.â€