Madam, – Oliver Devin asks (January 7th) whether “the scene depicted on the south cross of Monasterboice, sculpted AD 922, is the oldest representation of the nativity in stone in Ireland”. Several issues arise.
Why “AD 922”? The inscription concerned reads “OR DO MUIREDACH LASNDERNAD IN CHROS” (“A prayer for Murdock under whose supervision the cross was made”), and Murdock died in 923. Any date over the previous decade or two seems possible.
Hilary Richardson and John Scarry, in their 1990 book An Introduction to Irish High Crosses, make the important point (p.18) that “scripture crosses ... panelled with figure carvings ... may be dated between the ninth and first part of the tenth century”.
The Monasterboice Cross fits into this pattern, and other (probably?) 10th-century depictions of the visit of the Magi are found (according to Richardson-Scarry) on crosses at Ardboe (Co Tyrone), Armagh, Clones, Galloon (Co Fermanagh), Kells (Market Cross) and Killary (Co Meath). But specific dating, before or after Oliver Devin’s putative date of 922, seems well-nigh impossible.
Earlier than Monasterboice may possibly be a depiction on the east face of the Donaghmore Cross (Co Tyrone), which Richardson-Scarry date as “Ninth/tenth century”, and a depiction (if this is of the Magi, which is not certain), on the east face of King Flann’s Cross at Clonmacnois, dating from about 901.
The wise course is to admit that certainty is not possible, and that the Monasterboice depiction is probably not the oldest. – Yours, etc,