h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Irish High Crosses - A986501
Author: Gnomon - Time is on my Side - U151503

The result of two years of research.

That was two years well spent, impressive entry and an excellent choice of subject.

Thanks Bob.

You are welcome looking forward to seeing it in the guide.

A fine entry, Gnomon. I can sense the enthusiasm you had to visit these, and it all comes out in your writing.

Good choice of illustrations, too.

Nothing to add

Thanks Icy.

One phrase reads oddly: "There are many other details to watch out for."

'Look out for' might be more suitable; 'watching out' suggests to me the idea of catching some event that may occur, or spotting something that could suddenly appear.

The word 'own' is redundant here? >'Jesus with a dove over his head at his own baptism'

I find it curious that you need to detail a possible 'use' for crosses.

The ring feature on the other hand surely has a mechanical reason, supporting the crossmember which would otherwise be very much more vulnerable.

Great entry!

Is 'simplistic' the right word? Would 'simple' do?

>These are of excellent quality - they're done in a very simplistic style (Moone)

>Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, with the goat in the background.

I know there was less difference then, but doesn't Genesis describe it as 'a ram caught in a thicket?' (22:13)

Castledermot >3.13m high and is rather thick and heavy-built.

Heavy is an adjective, if that kind of thing bothers you.

People can be described as 'heavily built' but does that transfer to crosses? Would 'stocky' or some alternative be better?

Ardboe > The monastery must have been a successful one because in about the 10th Century, they built

Comma is redundant (wrong) here. Did you mean to put it after 'one'? That would be optional.

Drumcliffe

Is it a tad excessive to detail 'The Nobel-prize-winning poet WB Yeats'? His fame greatly exceeds that accolade.

Kilfenora > It was known as the 'City of Seven Crosses'

Would it be more natural to move the first quotemark?

It was known as 'the City of Seven Crosses'

>The ruins of the cathedral are attached to St Fachtnan's Church of Ireland at the west end of the village.

By the whim of history, the old churches and cathedrals became Church of Ireland many centuries later. Does this need a mention? Isn't it a bit off-topic?

Duleek >At only 1.82m high, it hardly qualifies for the adjective 'high'

Infelicitous repetition? Simply

At only 1.82m, it hardly qualifies for the adjective 'high'

Good points all, Recumbentman. Thanks for going into such detail. I've been over these descriptions so often, tweaking and changing, that I find it hard now to read them.

I believe "St Fachtnan's Church of Ireland" is the official name of the church, but it does sound odd, so I'll change it.

"I find it curious that you need to detail a possible 'use' for crosses."
-- Giant crosses were expensive items to build so there must have been a reason for building them. The ornamental ones were obviously works of art, but the ones with scriptural scenes suggest that they also had a 'use'.

The ring feature on the other hand surely has a mechanical reason, supporting the crossmember which would otherwise be very much more vulnerable.

-- It's possible. But to make the whole look artisitically balanced after adding the ring, they remove some of the cross bar, making it weaker. So it's hard to know. There are many damaged crosses which I haven't listed in this, some with arms missing and some with parts of the ring gone.

Details:

to watch out for --> to look out for

Jesus with a dove over his head at his own baptism -- remove word 'own'

they're done in a very simplistic style -->
they're done in a very simple style -->

with the goat in the background --> with the ram in the background

rather thick and heavy-built --> rather thick and stocky-looking

The monastery must have been a successful one because in about the 10th Century, they built
-->
The monastery must have been a successful one, because in about the 10th Century they built

(Not wrong, but better the way you've suggested it.)

The Nobel-prize-winning poet WB Yeats --> The poet WB Yeats

It was known as the 'City of Seven Crosses' -->
It was known as 'the City of Seven Crosses'

St Fachtnan's Church of Ireland --> St Fachtnan's Church

At only 1.82m high --> At only 1.82m

Sorry, I meant to say I've done all those details.

Thanks! Excellent Entry! Haven't seen the half of those crosses, must make a detour.

I have been put through the theory and practice of comma use on www.oedilf.com like an avocado through a sieve, and have bowed to their correctness. In a word, you should not put a comma between a verb and its object unless marking off a subordinate clause.

By the way, on commas Lynn Truss is the least reliable guide http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/06/28/040628crbo_books1?currentPage=all