Saint Patrick's Cross,
Carndonagh, Inishowen, Co Donegal. Saint Patrick's cross is situated in
the beautiful town of Carndonagh.There are many beautiful views in and
around the Carndonagh area including this one of The Mintiaghs Lough on
the Buncrana road.The position and location of the Donagh Cross have
varied over the past forty to one hundred years. In its present position
all the carvings can be clearly seen, except for a very small portion at
the bottom of the the three figure panel, which is set slightly more
deeply than previously.
As to the carvings themselves, for the most part they are too well known
to need description. The cross is believed by some authorities to date
from the last quarter of the seventh century and is one of the oldest in
Europe. Each pillar stone has a carving on each side, though some,
presumably, are unfinished, David as a warrior ( ? ) is outlined in
pocking, and another shows only a head, also in pocking, with the rest
of the surface blank. The carving of the figure seated playing a
harp-like instrument shows how the artist cleverly fitted the profile of
the face, and indeed the whole figure, to the shape of the stone.
The Cloncha Cross, Larahirl, Inishowen, Co.Donegal This
cross stands 3 metres tall. Part of the arm was restored by the Office
of Public works about 1980. There are 4 main panels. The lowest panel
consists of 2 animal figures, both of which have their heads at the end
of the looped ribbon design. Tails are also shown. The animals appear to
have broad snouts and pointed ears. The two centre panels have a
fretwork pattern and an un-even double-ribbon design. Both panels have a
strong frame to highlight them.
The ribbon designs recall similar patterns at Carndonagh and Cloncha both
of which influenced the sculptor.The top panel has a seen from the New
Testament, the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. A figure is seated on a
chair with a raised back and decorated top. He holds a plate with 5
circular loaves of bread. Two fishes are carved beneath the plate. The
short left arm has a figure holding his hands aloft in what is described
as the "orans" or praying style.
Carrowmore Cross, Carrowmore, Inishowen, Co Donegal The ancient
monastic site at Carrowmore, with it's two impressive High Crosses. This
site is referred to as Both Chonais and has given it's name to the
present parish of Bocan. The parish church can be seen in the distance.
The word "both" is a common Irish word for a hut dwelling. A man called
Conas gave his name to the parish. He was the husband of Dareaca, a
sister of St. Patrick. This information is contained on a public notice
beside the roadway, which runs through the site with a High Cross on
either side. Both crosses stand gaunt and grey. The North Cross is
undecorated and has two short shafts and is without rings. It is 3.32
metres high and stands at an angle to the roadway. The site is in
private hands.
The South Cross in the field
opposite is smaller. The west face has no decoration but a figure can be
seen engraved in low relief on the west face. This is described by
iconographers as a Majestas Domine. The figure is that of Christ wearing
a long garment and his feet can clearly be seen. An outline of an angel
can be seen on each side. This is the only example of this figure of
Christ on crosses in the Northern Group of crosses but it occurs
frequently on Carolingian ivories on the Continent dating from the tenth
century and also on three crosses in the Midlands at Clonmacnoise, Kells
and on Muiredach's Cross at Monasterboice. An enclosure can be seen
which was the ground plan of a stone church on the site. The outline of
the cloister-garth is also evident. The doorway stones that marked the
entrance are visible in the corner. There are two slabs to be seen close
by. One is unmarked and the other has markings which can be traced.
There is a design of a sword and a circle cut into four segments.
Across the road, there is a
stone with faint markings of a cross close to the High Cross. There was
also a holy well to which traditional cures were attributed, but it is
no longer used. There is a tradition that the field that contains the
enclosure is never cultivated and there has never been any
archaeological excavation on the site, so that the secrets of this place
remain undisturbed. There is evidence that there was a cemetery here as
human bones were unearthed when a roadway was being made through the
site.
St. Mura's Cross, Fahan, Inishowen, Co Donegal The ancient
monastery at Fahan was founded by St.Maura who was a relative of St.
Columba. It was closely linked to the ruling O'Neil dynasty which had a
palace at Grianan Aileach. The cross-slab is in the centre of an old
graveyard. A cross is carved on both sides of the slab in the form of a
Latin Cross, which has a long stem giving it the appearance of a Greek
Cross. The Cross on each side on each side consists of a broad
interlaced ribbon. The west face of the cross has a more elaborate
design and two figures can be seen on either side. They are said to be
ecclesiastics. Both have long hair and wear long garments on which
inscriptions have been written. It has not been possible to decipher
them. It has been suggested that the words are as follows: Bendecht ar
ardebscop marga ua rinagain rab in-abaidecht in aimsir rig tadgain,
which may be translated as "a blessing upon the Archbishop Marga Ua
Rinagain in the time of King Tadgan". The first name is thought to be a
corruption of the name of the founder Mura but no trace of the second
name can be found in the Annals. On the east face there are outlines of
two birds at the top of the slab. Figures of birds and animals are
regular features on High Crosses.
The symbol of the bird is a common feature in Early Christian Art. It has
a symbolic value and is usually associated with the Resurrection,
symbolising power and triumph over death. In Early Irish Art, the bird
is often used to represent the soul of the departed. On the cross at Carndonagh birds are interpreted as singing hymns of joy at the vision
of Christ's Resurrection. The Birds of the Fahan cross-slab may have a
Columbian relevance as the Patron of the Abbey and kinsman of Mura was
known as the dove
|
