Donegal County Museum is seeking information on the current location of an archaeological artefact – the Glennagivney stone cross slab.
The stone is decorated with a wheeled (round) Latin cross carved in relief.
The stone cross-slab, which measures 61cm long and 15cm x 8cm width. was found in a ringfort the Townland of Glennagivney near Moville.
The cross slab was removed for safekeeping and was in the possession of Mr. T. O’ Kane until he died in 1973, when it was removed to the Parochial House in Moville.
The last known location for the cross slab was Moville Parish Church, where it was on public display in the church before renovations started in c. 2008 after which it disappeared.
Parishioners have said they remember seeing the cross during renovation and now Parish Priest Fr Pat O’Hagan has contacted the County Museum to send out an appeal for its whereabouts.
Grave-slabs give us a small window into the life of the early Church in County Donegal.
While grave-slabs like this were used up into the later-medieval period, this type represent some of the earliest Christian artwork to be put onto stone in Ireland. Latin cross slabs are usually 10th Century in date.
A spokesperson for Donegal County Museum appealed for information on the cross slab’s current location and the return of the slab.
If anyone has any information, please contact Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal T 074 9124613 E museum@donegalcoco.ie
