One of Ireland’s most significant early High Crosses

This cross is one of the earliest and most important High Crosses in Ireland. The highly ornate ‘Celtic Crosses’ that we all know from Irish images developed from slab crosses which as the name suggests were big slabs of granite with crosses carved onto them. The Carndonagh Cross was carved during this transitional period when some master craftsman started knocking off the corners of a granite slab and ‘Eureka’ ..out popped our first recognizable High Cross. 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.