Donaghmore Cross
Main Street
Donaghmore
County Tyrone
Open always
The Donaghmore cross is situated outside the graveyard wall at the castlecaulfield/pomeroy junction at the top of the village. The bulluan stone is behind the cross inside the graveyard wall
General Info
In the 6th Century a monastery was founded at Donaghmore by St Patrick for St Columb. (The Bell of Clogher, which is associated with the monastery, is now in the National Museum, Dublin. The churches and refectory were burned in 1195 and it was a parish church in 1306. The ruins of the old church were still standing in the 19th century, but there are now no visible remains). It is recorded that the cross formerly stood within the Monastery grounds, where, during the religious conflicts of the late 17th Century, it was pulled down and seriously damaged. In 1776 the fragments were removed and set up on the present site.
The cross is made up of parts of two crosses or two parts of the same cross with part of the shaft missing. It is richly decorated with biblical scenes. On the East side the New Testament subjects include the Annucaition to the Shepards, Adoration of the Magi, the Baptism of Christ, the Miracle at Cana, Loaves and Fishes, the arrest of Christ and the Crucifixion. On the West side are the Fall of Man, Cain and Abel, and the Sacrifice of Isaac. On the arms on either side of the crucifixion are three figures. It is estimated to date from the 10th century and is said to have been thrown down in the 17th century and re-erected in the 18th century.
Unfortunately the head is damaged and the two upper ring arcs are now gone, the top of the shaft broken and the cap missing.
In the graveyard beside the cross is a mature hawthorn tree. At the base is a large boulder with a deep bullaun carved into the bouder. It is believed bulluans were used in pre historic times to pound subtances.
Location
Donaghmore is located 3 miles North West of Dungannon. Take M1 southbound to Dungannon then take Donaghmore Road (B43) from Dungannon to Donaghmore (3 miles). The Cross is located in the main street at a fork in the road.
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