The Donagh Cross
Historians date the Carndonagh high cross to the seventh century, making it one of the oldest of its type in Ireland. This early Christian relic is a red sandstone slab cut out in the shape of a cross, and engraved with a rich, low relief that mixes Celtic artwork and Christian iconography. The west face is completely covered with a Celtic interlacing, while the east face depicts a crucifixion scene. Typical of Irish crosses, Jesus is not depicted as suffering or defeated, but rather erect and triumphant. Two small, separate pillars frame the cross, decorated with various characters, such as David with his harp and a large warrior believed to be Goliath.This one is beautifully decorated with both Christian depictions and Celtic artwork. Its interlacing patterns are similar to those found in The Book of Durrow and represent The Tree of Life. The early crosses do not portray Christ in a suffering position but as a victor over death.
The Donagh cross – Photo taken in 1929 by Amy Young
The Donagh Cross, also known as St. Patrick’s High Cross, sits today under a protective canopy in its new location on Church Road, just a few yards across the road from the original site. It is located on the grounds of a church founded by St Patrick for the Bishop of Clogher’s brother. It is considered one of the most important early-Christian remains in all of Britain and Ireland. This gallery includes images of the cross and guardstones in its original and new locations, and includes newspaper clippings on the controversial decision to move it.
Dating from the 7th century, the cross was an important destination of pilgrimage for centuries, and remains one of the most important archaeological sites on the island of Ireland.
An interesting description of the carvings on the cross and guardstones can be found in ‘Donegal: History and Society’ by W. Nolan, L. Ronayne, M. Dunleavy (Ed.):
“HIGH CROSS AND PILLARS CARNDONAGH
While few traces of pagan religion survive in Donegal, over 130 early church sites are known, testifying to the strength of Christianity in the country at this time. Many simple cross-inscribed slabs can be found on these sites but carvings of real sculptural quality are rare.
However, at Carndonagh, on the Inishowen peninsula, carvings of remarkable quality have survived on the site of an early Patrician church located in the area around the present eighteenth-century Church of Ireland Church. There is a High Cross standing between two decorated pillars, a cross slab known as ‘the Marigold Stone’ and a decorated lintel from an Early Christian church.
The High Cross
The High Cross, known as St. Patrick’s or Donagh Cross, has a simple and pleasing shape with short arms curving gently from the shaft. Its decoration is unusual, combining bands of interlaced ribbon with simplified figures in low relief, shown frontally and in profile.
The most prominent scene on the cross is a Crucifixion accompanied by two figures representing either Stephaton and Longinus, sponge and lance bearers, or the two thieves crucified with Christ. Below it are three figures wearing cowls and long robes, These may represent the holy women who visited Christ’s tomb after the Resurrection. The two pillars are cared in the same style as the cross and apart from spiral ornament on the north pillar are covered exclusively with figures and other representational images.
The harpist on the north pillar, representing King David, is the only figure that can be identified with any certainty. The figure of the warrior on the same pillar may also be David although it could alternatively represent Goliath. The remaining side of the north pillar contains a baffling image of a large fish with a small bird, perhaps an eagle, perched on its head.
On the south pillar is a figure holding a bell and a book or satchel. Below this is a crozier, shepherd’s crook or walking staff lying on its side. This figure is usually identified by the episcopal emblem as a saintly bishop or abbot. However, it has been suggested that the crozier is a walking staff and that the figure represents a pilgrim or a pilgrim saint.
The figure on the south side of this pillar continues to be enigmatic. Controversy surrounds the interpretation of the two ‘horns’ rising from the forehead. If they are intended to represent horns, then the figure may take on either the pre-Christian symbolism of a horned god or possibly the Christian symbolism of a devil. It seems more plausible to accept the ‘horns’ as locks of hair, in which case one could identify the objects on the lower part of the stone as three loaves and a poorly carved fish, and interpret the image as The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. On the north side of this pillar is a carving interpreted as Jonah and the Whale. It consists of a large human head shown in profile above a fish-like body. Only a face has been carved on the remaining side of this pillar.”
– ‘Donegal: History and Society’ by W. Nolan, L. Ronayne, M. Dunleavy (Ed.)