Cross-slab, Beaugreen Glebe, Co. Donegal
Co. Donegal |
Crosses & Monuments
In the townland of Beaugreen Glebe, County Donegal, stands Killaghtee Old Church, a medieval structure that served its congregation for centuries before finally closing its doors in 1826.
The Civil Survey of 1654-6 noted that the church was still undergoing repairs at that time, suggesting it had already weathered considerable years of use. When the new Church of Ireland parish church opened nearby in the early 19th century, this ancient place of worship fell silent, though its stone walls continue to stand within the surrounding graveyard.
The most intriguing feature of the site is a cross-inscribed slab located southwest of the church ruins. Standing approximately 1.75 metres tall and 0.75 metres wide, this stone monument displays remarkable early Christian artistry on its western face. At the top, a Maltese cross sits within a carved circle, its centre marked by two concentric rings. A curious D-shaped notch has been cut into the upper arm of the cross, whilst to the right, beneath the circle, appears a triquetra interlace; that distinctive three-cornered knot pattern so beloved in Celtic art. Local historian Conaghan reported seeing two damaged bullaun stones here in 1977, those distinctive boulder basins often associated with early Irish ecclesiastical sites, though these have since vanished from view.
The church and its graveyard occupy a pleasant spot on good pasture land, with the Donegal coastline lying just a short walk to the southwest. This proximity to the sea would have made Killaghtee an accessible location for the scattered rural communities it once served, whilst the quality of the surrounding farmland suggests why this area has remained inhabited and cultivated for so many generations.