It is not clear where the first high crosses originated. The first examples date to about the 9th century and occur in two groups: at Ahenny in Ireland, and at Iona - an Irish monastery off the Scottish coast. However, it is possible that St. Johns Cross at Iona was the first high cross; Iona's influence as a center of pilgrimage may have led this cross to inspire the Ahenny group as well as other ringed crosses in Pictish stones. Popular legend in Ireland says that the Christian cross was introduced by Saint Patrick or possibly Saint Declan, though there are no examples from this early period. It has often been claimed that Patrick combined the symbol of Christianity with the sun cross to give pagan followers an idea of the importance of the cross. By linking it with the idea of the life-giving properties of the sun, these two ideas were linked to appeal to pagans. Other interpretations claim that placing the cross on top of the circle represents Christ's supremacy over the pagan sun.
 
A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg and simply means "young clover".
 
Each item begins as a piece of sheet metal, copper, bronze, brass or nickel.  After a pattern is transferred to the metal, the piece is etched in a salt-water solution.  Each piece is hand cut, sanded, and polished. A patina may be applied or it may be hand painted with dye oxide.  A clear polymer coating is applied