Godfrey O'Donnell Graveslab

Conwal Graveyard, recently extended and still in use is the site of an early ecclesiastical settlement possibly as old as the 7th century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 33). Within the graveyard (DG053-029008-) is a holy well (DG053-029002-) (Ó Muirgheasa No. 78) and the ruins of a church (DG053-029001-). Colhoun (1970, 241) notes that the site was tidied up about 1968 and a grassy rectangular mound (DG053-029007-) at right angles to the S wall of the church was made into a rectangular cairn of stones, the flat top of which is paved with grave-slabs. In addition, there are a number of upright slabs of which six have cruciform designs, one a human figure and three are uninscribed. Five cross slabs are lying unfixed on the cairn. Three recumbent cross-slabs are set in the cairn. There are twelve other graveslabs on the cairn, one late 19th century, the others plain and uninscribed some of them trapezoidal in plan. (15) A recumbent slab (DG053-029019-) set on top of the cairn. Tradition associates this as the burial slab of Godfrey O'Donnell who died in 1258 (Calhoun 1970, 241). It is 2.36m x.65m × 0.07m and is subrectangular in plan. The upper right corner is broken and the rest of the design is very weathered. A wheeled-cross is carved in light relief. The long shaft is flanked by crude interlace. The area above the wheel and arms is also filled with interlace. The cross has hollow angles and a base for the shaft is discernible. The four sections of the wheel have banded edges on each side with traces of small bosses between them. There are faint traces of unidentifiable ornament inside the two bottom ringed quarters. The Conwal site is located on the SE slopes of Glendoon Hill above the River Swilly in good land. 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 Christian tomb; associated with a holy well and possible 7th-century ecclesiastical settlement. Significance lies in its potential link to early Irish monastic tradition and ongoing sacred use of the site.