It came from Sceilg Mhichíl, the remote island monastery off the coast of Kerry that clings to one of the most inhospitable outcrops in the North Atlantic, and its current address in a depot on the mainland could hardly be more different from its origin.

The cross is modest in every dimension: 0.18 metres long, 0.12 metres wide, and only 0.03 metres thick. It was roughly worked rather than finely carved, with a damaged head and hollowed angles set just beneath arms that project slightly from the shaft. Early medieval Irish stone crosses of this type are often simple devotional objects rather than the elaborate high crosses that tend to attract attention, and the wear and rough finish of this one suggest long exposure to the severe conditions Sceilg Mhichíl is known for. It is now in the care of the Office of Public Works, which manages National Monuments across Ireland, and is held at their depot in Killarney rather than displayed publicly.