Cooly Ring-Headed Cross Slab

The early ecclesiastical site here consists of a sub-rectangular shaped graveyard inside of which are a number of earlier features (Lacy et. al. 1983, 261). This 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). Ring-headed cross carved in relief on upright slab (H 0.63m; Wth 0.23m; T 0.07m) in Cooly graveyard (DG021-008001-) located 1.5m N of cross-inscribed slab (DG021-008006-). A graveyard plan drawn by the Cooley Cross Heritage Committee shows location of cross-slab as number 10. The attached image (DG021-008008-_03.jpg) is a plan of the church and graveyard commissioned by the Cooley Cross Heritage Committee showing location of cross-slab number 10 inside graveyard. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 25 February 2015

Dated to the early medieval period, the Cooly Ring-Headed Cross Slab likely served a Christian funerary or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region. Such cross slabs often carried symbolic or devotional significance, sometimes associated with local saints or early monastic communities.