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Plan underway to preserve
important Fahan monuments
03.04.18
A PLAN to preserve a
number of historical monuments of great national
importance is underway in the village of Fahan.
Fahan Community Council has been involved in many
community-based initiatives since its inception in
2005 with the maintenance of St Mura’s Graveyard an
ongoing project.
"Recently we were approached by the Church of
Ireland community in St Mura’s and the West
Inishowen Historical Society to investigate the
serious deterioration of St Mura’s Cross Slab in the
graveyard and the condition of the ruins of the old
St Mura’s Church, adjacent to the cross," said a
spokesperson.
"After listening to the advice of experts in these
matters, all three organisations have thrown their
weight behind a campaign to preserve the cross and
the graveyard." |
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St Mura’s Cross Slab, Fahan, pictured
in 2000, right, and with the deterioration as seen
this year in 2018. |
The council is inviting
anyone with an interest in these monuments to attend
its AGM later this week.
St Mura’s Cross is one of the earliest Christian
monuments in Ireland, dating from the sixth century
- less than 100 years after the death of St Patrick.
The cross is one of the few in Ireland bearing a
Greek inscription.
"Unfortunately, this inscription was legible 50
years ago but due to erosion is no longer clear. The
graveyard is noted in many travel guides and
attracts thousands of visitors to the area," the
spokesperson added.
St Mura's graveyard has five other listed monuments.
Many of the graves are of historical interest
including the resting place of Agnes Jones, the
nursing pioneer and contemporary of Florence
Nightingale.
Nearby is the Glebe, the onetime home of Frances
Alexander who wrote the hymns ‘All Creatures Great
and Small’ and 'Once in Royal David’s City'.
The committee proposes to provide modern signage
which will give visitors all the relevant
information about these and many other attractions
in the area.
It said the work will be a major project "and will
require the backing of the whole community in the
area and all who value our heritage".
Fahan Community Council will continue with its own
work but will be heavily involved in this new
campaign. "We are inviting everyone who is
interested to come along to our Annual General
Meeting which is to be held in the Church of Ireland
Hall in Fahan on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 7.30pm. |
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