What is recorded here

Cloone graveyard holds a tall upright stone carrying three animal carvings, including a lion and a hound, in the same bold false-relief style as the Dobhar Chú stone near Conwall. The left edges of two panels are cut short, as if the carver followed the stone’s own limit rather than erasing the creature. Probably made in the 18th century, the sculpture still faces east above the old church ground, proud and unfinished in the way living things often are.

An upright headstone (Wth 0.62-0.72m; H 1.5m; T 0.15m) in the graveyard attached to the site of the early church (LE033-006001-), has three carvings of animals on the E side executed in false relief. On top is a lion rampant over a panel with a lion rampart holding a shield but the support on the left side has been truncated by the straight edge of the stone. This is over a panel with a hound that is slightly truncated on the left side. The carving is in the style of the Dobhar Chú stone (LE003-008004-) from Conwall burial ground in the north of the county, and like that stone is probably 18th century in date. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 6 December, 2019

Likely dating to the early medieval period, the stone sculpture may have served as a memorial or ecclesiastical marker, with the animal carvings potentially symbolizing Christian virtues or local folklore. The presence of a lion and ram suggests possible biblical or heraldic associations.

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