Background to St Daria Project

The sculpture of St. Cormac and St. Daria, which was erected at Moygownagh in early September 2005, marks the transition from the practice of ancient spirituality to the formalisation of early christianity in the area during the 7th century. The theme for the sculpture is based on the work of St. Daria in Moygownagh whose mission involved being the abbess of the local nunnery. The ruins of the Daria nunnery are still visible in the old graveyard at Knocknacullen.

According to the McFirbis in “The Life of St. Cormac” St. Daria was a deeply spiritual woman. It is this particular aspect that the sculptor is aiming to demonstrate; by linking artistic images of St. Cormac and St. Daria the artist attempts to signify the power of St. Daria's female spirituality in her meeting with St. Cormac at Moygownagh. Church history tells us that as a result of their encounter St. Cormac blessed the lands of Moygownagh with the promise of increased fertility. This, documentation also serves to remind us that Moygownagh as a place has ancient origins. Moreover, it is evidence that Moygownagh as a community has significant echoes and linkages to old Irish spiritual practices. Thus the actual sculpture piece planned for autumn 2005 signifies the combining of spirituality, pre-christianity and christianity practices.

It is against this background that the St. Cormac & St. Daria project has been explored and developed. The inspiration for the work has come from the quest to re-claim a rightful place for the image of St. Daria in the founding history of the community of Moygownagh. The process of re-claiming a place for Daria commenced with the inclusion of reference to her significant work in the design of the windows of St. Cormac's Church towards the end of the last century.