O' Donnelan Chalice

The Maurice Donnelan or Muircheartach O Domhnallain chalice dated 1696 is preserved in the Diocesan Museum in Loughrea. He was the Catholic Bishop of Clonfert from 1695 until 1706. He was arrested under the Banishment Act of 1697, but was rescued by an armed force of about 300 persons none of whom were apprehended. It is a silver gilt chalice with a deep bowl everted at the rim. It has an ornamneted knop. A Latin inscription on the foot reads: ‘Orate pro anima Domini D. Mauritii Donellanii Epi Clunfert qui me fieri fecit A.D. 1696‘. There is a Crucifixion with a skull and cross-bones  engraved on one facet. It is a Galway made chalice. The chalice was preserved in Loughrea Cathedral before it was donated to the museum.