Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

The early ecclesiastical site here consists of a sub-rectangular shaped graveyard inside of which are a number of earlier features. The site is located on excellent land sloping to Lough Foyle to the E and is traditionally claimed to have been founded by St. Patrick (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 399; Lacy et. al. 1983, 261). To the W outside the entrance to the graveyard (DG021-008001-) is a tall, plain, ringed high-cross (DG021-008005-). Inside the graveyard are the remains of two churches (DG021-008002-/003-) and a mortuary house or tomb shrine (DG021-008004-). One of the churches served as a medieval parish church (Leslie 1937, 265).
A poorly preserved upright cross-shaped slab (H 0.59m; Wth shaft 0.33m; Wth arms 0.38m; T 0.1m) in Cooly graveyard (DG021-008001-) shows traces of a ring-headed cross carved in relief of which only the lower right quadrant of the ring is visible. This slab is located immediately N of the bullaun stone (DG021-008007-). Listed by Herity as Cooly 02 and described as a 'damaged slab with carving in relief of a free-standing ringed cross. H 51+ cm. 1m north of Cooly 01' (DG021-008006-).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 23 October 2015

References

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

Lacy, B. with Cody, E., Cotter, C., Cuppage, J., Dunne, N., Hurley, V., O'Rahilly, C., Walsh, P. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1983 Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century A.D. Lifford. Donegal County Council.

Leslie, J. 1937 Derry clergy and parishes. Enniskillen.

Herity, M., Kelly, D. and Mattenberger, U. 1997 List of Early Christian cross-slabs in seven north-western counties. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 127, 89-124.