Riasg Buidhe Cross

Riasg Buidhe Cross in the gardens of Colonsay House

The Riasg Buidhe Cross is a cross re-erected in the gardens of Colonsay House on the Inner Hebridean island of Colonsay, Scotland. Riasg Buidhe is also the name of a now ruined fishing village on the island of Colonsay.

History

Dating from the 7th or 8th century the cross was found in 1870 in Kiloran (Irish: Cill Oran) at Colonsay House which was built in 1722. Near to the cross lies Tobar Oran (English: The well of St. Oran) of the Chapel of St. Oran.

One side of the cross shows a solemn face with distinctive eyebrows and ears. The depicted face rests its chin on top of a cross with Celtic decor. It has two opposite spirals on the cross legs and lower ends in a fishtail.

The other side of the cross shows priapic form.

References

• David M. Wilson: The Art of the Picts - Sculpture and Metalwork in early medieval Scotland, London, Thames and Hudson 2004, ISBN 0-500-23807-3.
• Kevin Byrne: Lonely Colonsay - Island at the Edge, Colonsay, House of Lochar 2010, ISBN 1-904-81707-6