St. Patrick's High Cross, Carndonagh

The cross stands looking at the town 1kw out of town centre. It is well preserved with a shelter standing over it constructed to fend it the weather. The main cross has two small stones on each side and adds to a great memorable photo. Good area for parking and 500m to cafe's etc. This is on the fantastic "Inishowen 100" scenic route which is also part of the wild "Atlantic Way"

THIS NATIONAL MONUMENT IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT HIGH CROSSES IN IRELAND. THE ART HISTORIAN F. HENRY PLACES THE CROSS TO THE 7TH CENTURY SINCE THE BRAID PATTERN IS SIMILAR TO THE INTERLACE ON THE C.650 BOOK OF DURROW. THE EAST FACE OF THE RE-ERECTED CROSS DEPICTS BANDS OF BROAD RIBBON INTERLACE (SYMBOLIC OF THE TREE OF LIFE), 3 BIRDS UNDER EACH ARM OF THE CROSS AND 8 SIMPLIFIED FIGURES IN LOW RELIEF. ALTHOUGH THE CENTRAL IMAGE MAY DEPICT A CRUCIFIXION SCENE (ARMS OUTSTRETCHED), IT DOES NOT PORTRAY CHRIST IN A SLOUCHED OR SUFFERING POSITION. BELOW THIS SCENE ARE THREE FIGURES WEARING COWLS AND LONG ROBES, PERHAPS REPRESENTING THE HOLY WOMEN WHO VISITED CHRIST'S TOMB AFTER THE RESURRECTION. BESIDE EACH SIDE OF THE CROSS ARE TWO ERECTED CARVED STONE PILLARS, ONE OF DAVID THE WARRIOR, AND THE OTHER DAVID THE HARPIST. BOTH THE CROSS AND THE PILLARS ARE NOW PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS FROM A MODERN STYLE SHELTER.