What is recorded here

Inishkeel Island is a small Atlantic rock where Donegal sea and sky still argue. St Mary’s church stands inside its graveyard like a woman remembering a drowned wedding. The Maltese cross slab lies broken within, its corners lost to time or tide. To touch that stone is to feel the edge of a world that ended before maps learned its name.

Located within a graveyard (DG064-003001-) which encloses two medieval churches, St Mary’s (DG064-003002-) and St. Connell’s (DG064-003006-), a fragment of a high cross (DG064-003008-), four cross slabs (DG064-003004-; DG064-003005-; DG064-0030009-; DG064-003010-) and a graveslab (DG064-003007-). Another cross-slab (DG064-003003-) is now missing. This complex of monuments, a National Monument in state ownership (No. 658), is located on the E side of Inishkeel Island in good pasture land. This small island which lies in a sheltered spot c. 500m offshore is accessible on foot at low tide. This cross-slab (DG064-003004-) is located in the interior of St. Mary's Church (DG064-003002-). The top left corner is broken off and missing. The remainder is in two conjoining parts. The slab is .96m × 0.85m × 0.03m. A Maltese' cross with a central circle decorates the slab. There is a narrow groove along each side of the slab and a zig-zag inset from a groove along the top. 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

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.