My Visit to the Duleek High Cross: Small in Size, Big in Story

Hello friends, Aidan here from Gifts of Ireland 🇮🇪.
This week on my Story of Ireland, I made my way to the village of Duleek in County Meath to see one of Ireland’s lesser-known but truly fascinating high crosses. It was a grand, sunny day—the kind where everything feels a bit brighter—and we set off to explore the grounds of the old church.

As we wandered through the site, we were taken in by the peaceful setting. There’s an old stone church here now, but Duleek’s story goes much further back. In fact, it was one of the earliest Christian monastic settlements in Ireland, and it’s said that Saint Patrick himself appointed Saint Cianán as bishop here in the 5th century. The first church on the site is believed to have been Ireland’s first wooden church, built shortly after that time. That little fact alone made me look at the place differently—knowing it’s where Christianity first took root in our part of the world.

Of course, the site hasn’t had an easy history. Like so many other sacred places in Ireland, Duleek suffered during the Cromwellian campaign, when the church was burned. The structure that stands now is a later stone build, with bits and pieces of the original monastic layout still visible if you know where to look.

And then, there’s the high cross itself. I’ll be honest—I was expecting something taller, something more in line with the crosses at Monasterboice or Clonmacnoise. But the Duleek cross is smaller in scale. What it lacks in height, though, it more than makes up for in detail. The carvings are beautifully intricate, and you get the sense that every symbol was placed with intention.

As we admired the cross and walked the grounds, we bumped into a few local teenagers hanging about, enjoying the sun. It gave the place a sense of life—not just a monument, but part of a living village. Later, in the village itself, we chatted with a lovely older man who gave us directions and a bit of local insight. There’s something about small Irish towns—you always end up in a conversation.

It’s the kind of place that doesn’t shout for attention but rewards those who stop to look. If you ever find yourself in Meath, Duleek is well worth the visit—a quiet spot, full of stories and history.

Slán go fóill,
Aidan 💚🇮🇪☘️