Tory Island Early Church Graveyard

At about the mid point on the S side of Tory Island is a settlement called West Town clustered around a small bay. This settlement includes within it and close to it the remains of the early ecclesiastical complex on the island (National Monument number 24). The available literature seems to refer to several structures and monuments no longer visible. In particular the Civil Survey of 1654-56 (Simington 1937, 114) refers to 'five churches almost ruined' only one of which seems to survive. Literary references to Tory appear to begin in the 7th century and continue throughout the early and later medieval period indicating its ecclesiastical nature (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 46). Beside the harbour is a graveyard enclosed by a modern stone wall. It probably occupies the same site as the large, walled enclosure with an arched entrance shown by Getty (1853, 142-158) and called by him Rath Finan. It seems likely that Getty confused this name with that for the site at Ray (DG025-029001-) on the mainland. No trace of the enclosure is visible but about midway along the W wall of the graveyard is a stone-built altar on which are arranged a number of stone items. The most important of these is a cross-slab the back of which is cemented to the graveyard wall. It is 1.35m x .45m. The top is damaged and the slab was split and rejoined along the middle. SE of the altar is a socketed stone which appears to be the horizontal shaft of a multi-piece cross. A cross base (DG006-006----) was discovered in the graveyard in 2012 and it is tempting to speculate that the surviving shaft fragment may have come from the cross that stood in this socket. 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 this instance the entry has been revised and updated. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 13 March 2013

Early medieval Christian graveyard; dates to the 7th–10th century. It is significant as part of the broader network of early Irish monastic sites, reflecting the spread of Christianity in remote western Atlantic locations.