Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

This early ecclesiastical site consists of a sub-rectangular modern graveyard (DG012-002011-) enclosing Clonca Old Church (DG012-002001-). The surviving rectangular gabled church is a seventeenth century building incorporating earlier fragments. It was built post 1622 and continued in use until 1827 (Leslie 1937, 155; Bonner 1972, 70, 93). The remains are vested in the Office of Public Works and are a National Monument (No. 25). Inside the church in the SW corner is a small portable bullaun stone (DG012-002004-). At the NE end of the church fixed to the wall are two grave slabs (DG012-002005-; DG012-002012-). In the field W of the graveyard is the stem and part of one arm of a restored, decorated, stone cross (DG012-002007-) carved from a single slab. In the NW corner of the field across the road to the S is a holy well (M. R. Colhoun). To the W of the adjoining road is a field in which a small cross-slab (DG012-002009-) was found.

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 02 November 2011