The inscription is in Latin and Irish.

It runs around the side of the cross, beginning at the bottom on the left side:

+ HÁC CRUCE CRÚX TEGITUR QUÁ PÁSUS CONDITOR ORBIS /

OR[ÓIT] DO MUREDUCH U DUBTHAIG DO SENÓIR ÉREND /

OR[ÓIT] DO THERRDEL[BUCH] U CHONCHO[BAIR] DO RÍG EREND LASA NDERRNAD IN GRES SA /

OR[ÓIT] DO DOMNULL M[A]C FLANNACÁN U DUB[THAIG] DE IMLIB CONNACHT DO CHOMARBA CHOMMAN ACUS CHIARÁN ICA N[D]ERRNAD IN GRES SA /

OR[ÓIT] DO MAÉL ÍSU M[A]C BRATDAN U ECHA[C]H DORIGNI IN GRES SA/

+ HÁC CRUCE CRÚX TEGITUR QUA PASUS CONDITOR ORBIS

Translation

+ By this cross is covered the cross on which the creator of the world suffered

A prayer for Muiredach Ua Dubthaig, senior ecclesiastic of Ireland

A prayer for Tairdelbach Ua Conchobair, king of Ireland, by whom was made this ornament

A prayer for Domnall mac Flannacáin Uí Dubthaig from the borders of Connacht, successor of Commán and Ciarán, by whom was made this ornament

A prayer for Máel Ísu mac Bratáin Uí Echach, who made this ornament

+ By this cross is covered the cross on which the creator of the world suffered