Bullaun stone in 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). N of the W gable of the Mortuary House is a small basin stone or possible bullaun stone and to the NW a small cross-inscribed stone (DG021-008006-). A graveyard plan drawn by the Cooley Cross Heritage Committee shows location of bullaun stone, known locally as the ‘basin stone’ and marked on plan as number 7. The attached image (DG021-008012-_03.jpg) is a plan of the church and graveyard commissioned by the Cooley Cross Heritage Committee showing location of bullaun stone number 13 inside graveyard. 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