Carndonagh Early Church Graveyard

The Carndonagh complex (National Monument number 271) is the site of one of the main early ecclesiastical centres in Donegal. It consists of a modern graveyard surrounding the 18th century Church of Ireland church, which is thought to stand on the site of an early church. In the SE area of the graveyard is the well-known 'Marigold Stone' (DG011-035004-). At the NE corner of the graveyard, but outside it on the roadside, is a group of carved stones consisting of a high cross (DG011-035009-) flanked on each side by a stele or stone sculpture (DG011-035010; DG011-035011-), one to the N and the other to the S. Situated on the E slope of Crocknakilladerry Hill in relatively good land sloping E to the Glentogher river on the edge of Carndonagh town. 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

Early medieval ecclesiastical site; significant as a major religious and monastic centre in northwest Ireland.