Old Cross — Cooly

The early ecclesiastical site here consists of a sub-rectangular shaped graveyard inside of which are a number of earlier features. The 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). This cross is located in the townland of Cooly and not the adjoining townland of Carrownaff as suggested by Harbison in his study of Irish High Crosses. The cross is described by Harbison as 'An undecorated ringed cross, 2.8m high and 80cm across the arms, stands outside the gate of Cooley or Cooly cemetery in the townland of Carrownaff, near Moville. The shaft, which expands slightly upwards, 39cm wide and 17cm thick at the bottom. There is an asymmetrically-placed hole in the upper limb of the cross, above the level of the ring. The cross stands in an irregularly-shaped base, 2.1m long , 90cm broad and about 20cm high, with a hole near the northern end' (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 33-4). The dating of this cross remains speculative as there are no decorative details on which to securely date the cross. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 February 2015