Cooey na Gall Monument

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A stone tomb niche placed against the S wall of the chancel of the ruins of a former Augustinian Priory.

The tomb, well preserved, consists of a table memorial with a recumbent figure on top lying flat on its back and dressed in the manner of a warrior chieftain complete with sword. Feet and lower limbs are together with the soles of the feet against a raised block. Arms more or less by the sides but one crosses the body to grasp the sword, which has a decorative handle and is in its scabbard. The full length dress to the knees is of some pleated fashion with shoulder protection. The head has protective gear. Around the edge of the flat top table a running bead or nail head moulding. Below the table top a blank arcading of 6 cusped panels bound by a raised moulding. The corners are decorated with engaged shafts with banding. Within each panel an erect figure dressed like the recumbent and each with a sword in its scabbard. Their headgear has some plumage or ball on top. There is a kerb or moulding skirting below.

Above the table a recess surmounted by a moulded cusped curved arch springing from a moulded framing or architrave forming a pointed arch above the other. In the tympanum there is a beautiful array of delicately portrayed tracery in the form of circles containing “comma” or mouchettes arranged in pairs and triples and 2 quatrefoils. A hood moulding frames the ensemble. It is an impressive piece of sculpted stonework of either the late 14th or early 15th cent.

There are several of these tomb niches in Ireland but none so subtle in design as the Cooey na Gall monument. The flame tracery of Kilconnell Friary is another excellent one.

The tomb is partly recessed in the S wall of the chancel and in a reasonable state of preservation.

Historical information

The tomb niche monument commemorates an O’Cahan chief who flourished in the 14th century and was reputed to have died in c 1385. There is a lengthy description given in the O.S. Memoirs of Ireland. It also states that the space in front of the tomb “is still used exclusively as the burial place of the immediate descendants of the chief branch of the O’Kane family”. Some ascribe the work as that of Scottish craftsmen.

It is part of the scheduled monument in State Care of Dungiven Priory. It is sheltered within the chancel of the Priory with temporary protective roof and the chancel arch partitioned off and locked. There are glazed observation panels in the partition. SM No. Ldy 31.15

References

Primary Sources

Ordnance Survey O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry IV 1824, 1833-5 p. 56, 57, 58
Ed. by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams Q.U.B.
HMSO Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland 6th Ed. 1983 p. 38, 51, 52, 53, 128

Secondary Sources

Rowan Buildings of Ireland North West Ulster p. 265
Leask Irish Churches and Monastic Buildings Vol III p. 166, incl. pl. XXII
Curl The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 291

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An excellent piece of late 14th or 15th cent. sculpture and unique in Northern Ireland. Finely crafted and executed and in a good state of preservation. As well as a fine piece of sculpture in a gothic mode it has great historical importance as a mediaeval work of art and a memorial to an important clan in the N W of Ulster.