The sculpture was created by William McCracken in his shed at the rear of his home in Ardagh, St Johnston.

The Celtic Cross is now situated in the village adjacent to the main Letterkenny road. A spokesperson for Newtowncunningham Focus Group said the landmark will be “a great addition” to the area and “a point of interest for tourists and locals alike”.

The spokesperson said much interest was expressed in the Celtic cross.

“We were lucky to secure it and keep it in the area. Funding was obtained by through the Minor Tourism Grant and the Development Fund Initiative. As well as purchasing the cross, the money was used to develop and renew the footpaths at Colehill providing a link to the churches and local supermarket and the installation of a new fence and additional lighting.

“The cross looks fantastic and hopefully it will be in place for many years to come.”

A welder and fabricator with Fleming Engineering in Derry, William came up with the idea while he was making a Christmas tree, and also in a bid not to waste materials.

The striking piece took William six weeks to make. They say many hands make light work and this proved true for William who had the help of his two children Abbi (13) and 11-year-old Blake, who kept their dad company out in the shed much of the time.

William also runs a small business, Weathervane Designs, where he makes ornamental weather vanes, bird feeders and farm signs. But the size and scale of his Celtic Cross structure is new.