Cross-slab, Cloghboy, Co. Donegal
On a south-facing slope overlooking Maghera strand in County Donegal, a modest but intriguing piece of early Christian heritage awaits discovery amongst the rough grazing land and rocky outcrops.
Cross-slab, Cloghboy, Co. Donegal
Here, carved into a north-northwest facing vertical rock face, a Latin cross bearing distinctive T-bar terminals has weathered the centuries. Measuring just 37 centimetres tall by 19 centimetres wide, this carved cross represents one of countless religious markers that dot the Irish landscape, each one a testament to the island’s deep Christian roots.
The cross-slab at Cloghboy forms part of a 10-metre-long section of rock face that rises about a metre in height. Its positioning, facing away from the sea whilst overlooking the strand below, suggests it may have served as a waymarker or blessing point for those traversing this coastal landscape. The T-bar terminals, a design feature found on various Irish crosses, give this otherwise simple carving its distinctive character and help date it within the broader tradition of Irish stone carving.
This site was documented as part of the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled in 1983 by Brian Lacey and his team of archaeologists. Their work catalogued field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century, ensuring that even modest monuments like this cross-slab would be preserved in the historical record. Whilst it may lack the grandeur of high crosses found elsewhere in Ireland, this carved rock face offers an authentic glimpse into how Christianity left its mark on even the most remote corners of the Irish landscape.





