The Marigold Stone
Taken from Donegal History & Society (Editors: William Nolan, Liam Ronayne and Mairead Dunlevy)

The Marigold slab at Carndonagh stands near the edge of a terrace on the south-east side of the present church on the site. (Church of Ireland). It is 1.68m tall, parallel sides, is elegantly carved on all four sides, and is 42.9cm wide at the top. On the west face a pair of figures stand on either side of a flabellum, the head of which is a seven petalled marigold in a circle. At the centre of the marigold is a double circle in relief; there is a small boss in each of the webbed spaces between the petal. The handle is shown with a stepped design, ending in a pair of great loops at the bottom. These loops straddle a peltoid extension of a circle below, which stands on a horizontal foot with a stepped design like that of the handle of the flabellum. Threaded through the circumference of the circle is a regular four-looped interlace resembling a marigold.

The figure on each side is shown in knee-length robes, with hair dressed back over the ears to fall over the nape of the neck. That on the right holds in the hand nearest the viewer, raised in front of his chest, a crooked crozier. The figure on the left holds in a similar position what may be a tau crozier with a vertical slot carved above the pointed foot.

The Marigold stone takes its name from the well preserved design which dominates the west face of this cross slab. The design, framed by a circle, can be viewed as a floral motif with seven petals - in which case it is closer to the six-petalled asphodel than to a marigold with its multiplicity of petals. Alternatively, if one sees the shapes between the petals as predominant, the design becomes a star-shaped motif with seven rays. Emanating from this circular shape is a long stem or handle. This design may represent a 'flabellum' - a fan used during Mass in warm climates to keep flies away from the altar. There are two figures on either side of this 'flabellum'. Both appear to be carrying a staff or crozier and may represent two pilgrims or possibly St. Paul and St. Anthony.

The east face of the pillar shows an unusual Crucifixion. The figure of Christ is placed on an equal-armed cross from whose foot develops a twisted interlace stem which ends in a tripartite knot. The Christ dressed in a long robe, has a greatly enlarged head which protrudes through the upper surface of the slab. Standing below the cross on either side are two figures, each dressed in knee-length robes which are ornamented with an egual-armed cross on the body. Beneath this composition the lower part of the pillar is filled by an equal-armed cross, ornamented with a twisted interlace, which stands on a plinth filled with a step-pattern. There are traces of two equal-armed crosses in the upper angles of this cross.

Side View of Marigold Stone Slab

'Marigold' Stone or Stele of Carndonagh
(The Heritage of Inishowen by Mabel R. Colhoun 1970)
This stone, considered to be highly important, stands in the graveyard a few yards from the south east corner of the church and a few yards from the present position of the Donagh Cross. Again the east and west faces are too familiar to need description, except perhaps, for one or two observations. The top of the stone has a small rounded projection which accommodates the top of Christ's head on the east side, which depicts the crucifixion. The marigold design on the upper most portion of the west face is said to show east Mediterranean influence, as does the Greek key pattern which may be seen down the much weathered south edge, and at the base, at least, of the west side. Part of the shaft of the cross on the east side is decorated with a two strand twist; a common circular swirling-type design on the north edge is made from double strap.

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