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Return to Co. Wexford list |
Go to Prehistoric Alignments & Dials |
Go to Ancient Monastic Dials |
Go to Medieval Dials |
Go to Modern (1600+) Dials |
Go to Sundial Info.and Books |
 Wexford Sundial |
 The 35 acre Irish National Heritage Park with it's sixteen archaeological and historical reconstructions covers 9000 years of Ireland's history. The Early Christian Monastery in the Heritage Park consists of a Stone Church with a corbelled roof, a Monk's Cell, a Scriptorium, a Refectory, a Herb Garden, a Celtic High Cross and a Sundial.  Photo courtesy of Dr. Ronan O'Flaherty Click here to visit the Crane Bag Consulting website |
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Made from an 'as found' granite slab and weighing over 2 tonne, the 180cm high sundial was erected in February 2011. This new sundial, modelled on those used in the Early Irish Christian Monasteries, was carved under supervision of consultant archaeologist Dr. Ronan O'Flaherty by Wexford stonemasons Sean and Pat Hickey. Underneath the dial face there is a cross carved in relief within an incised circle. Only eleven of these ancient sundials have survived in Ireland. Another two have been 'lost' in the recent past but were sketched and recorded by the Geologist/Antiquarian/Artist George Du Noyer in the1860s. Two others have survived in Wales and a fragment of another is to be found on the Isle of Man. |
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The temporal lines on these sundials were designed not to measure the passing hours but to mark the times when canonical prayers should be said. To emphasis the times of the principal prayers viz Morning prayer (Prime), Mid-morning prayer (Terce), Mid-day prayer (Sext), Mid-afternoon prayer (None) and Evening prayer (Vespers), the lines on the ancient dials were sometimes terminated in enclosing semi-circles in a trident like effect. |