Three generations of the one Stradbally family have handcrafted a Celtic cross which is on its way to the USA.
Christy Moran, his son Darren and grandson Chris all worked on the 15 foot monument which will be placed at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
The limestone creation was hand crafted at C&D Moran Stone Works where they are amongst the last traditional stone craftsmen in Ireland.
This means that they use hand tools rather than mechanised cutters and make their own tools in the workshop.
While their main business is headstones, they get commissioned to create pieces like these from time to time.
The university’s athletic teams are known as “The Notre Dame Fighting Irish” – hence the connection.
Once the cross, which took about four months to create, is installed in the college, an exhibition describing its journey from Laois to Indiana will be launched.
C&D Moran, which is located on the Main Street in Stradbally, was opened in 1976 by Christy Moran.
He started his apprenticeship with the late Jimmy McKeown in 1960 before going out on his own.
Darren followed in his father’s footsteps and now his son Chris, 16, is heading the same way after spending his summer holidays working on this project.
Speaking to the Laois Nationalist, Darren said: “The commission was very specific in that they wanted only Irish limestone and Irish hand-carvers.
“The stone came from McKeown’s quarry in Threecastles Co Kilkenny which is regarded as the best limestone in Europe.
“The carvings follow a series of drawings that were sent to us by the university.”
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