Architectural fragment

The National Monuments Service's description

Raphoe Cathedral (DG070-003001-): Adomnán (c. 624-704) ninth abbot of Iona and author of the famous 'Life' of his kinsman Colmcille was closely connected with the monastery at Raphoe. In the 12th century, Raphoe was established as a Diocesan See. There was formerly a round tower (DG070-003004-) at Raphoe. It was demolished by Bishop John Leslie when he built his palace (DG070-003003-) in 1636-7 (Wood 1937, 304-5). It can be inferred from a reference to it in John Lynch's De Praesulibus Hibernicis (O'Doherty, ed. I, 1944, 243) that the bishop's palace occupies the site of this tower (Ó Gallachair 1973, 323 also Barrow 1979, 74-75) The only visible remains of the monastery are two pieces of a sculptured door-lintel (DG070-003002-). The Cathedral shows many signs of successive alterations and rebuilding. The earliest work comprises a triple sedilia and piscina bowl in the S wall of the chancel. These were discovered c. 1888 when restoration work was in progress (Drew 1888, 294). The mouldings and capitals with trefoil leaves and nail head bands are of 13th-century character. That the church was further modified in the 15th-16th centuries is borne out by the many surviving fragments of that period. The cusped ogee-headed single-light window in the S wall of the chancel has an external hood-mould (part modern) with two head terminals. At the W end of the S wall is a rebuilt two-light window with multi-moulded jambs, mullion and transom. The round head is modern and the hood-mould terminals with vine leaf enrichment have been incorrectly inverted in opposing positions on either side of the window. There is a similar hood-mould terminal and a skew-corbel carved with a sheep's head lying outside the S porch. Another hood-mould terminal (DG070-003008) removed to Drumaneny House and subsequently restored to the Cathedral was stolen from outside the porch in 1980. It depicted a hunting scene; a stag with an attacking dog on its back and a dragon with cat-like head biting the twisted stem of the terminal. The two heads at the top of the narrow rectangular windows in the S wall of the tower may also belong to this period.

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.

Date of upload: 22 September 2008