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Heritage
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Cloncha/Carrowmore
High Crosses/Temple of Deen- Culdaff Gwynn and Hadcock in their
definitive account of Medieval Religious Houses, feel that this site is
'Both Chonais', an early monastic site founded by Chonas, second husband
of St. Patrick's sister Darerca. Tradition, however, has it that Patrick
founded this monastery on his way to Cooley from Carndonagh. Comgell, a
brother of St. Chriticola (Cele-Christus), who was one of its abbots,
died in 721 A. D. The monastery of St. Buadan in Culdaff was probably
founded from Both Chonas.
Two High Crosses are situated on an ancient monastic site at Carrowmore.
The North Cross is undecorated and has two short shafts and is without
rings. It is 3.32 metres high and stands at an angle to the roadway. The
site is in private hands. The South Cross in the field opposite is
smaller. The west face has no decoration but a figure can be seen
engraved in low relief on the west face.Back to the main road and take
road for Culdaff. Cloncha Church is on the right (visible from the
road).
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Cloncha Cross - Culdaff
This cross stands three metres tall. There are four main panels.
The lowest panel consists of two animal figures both of which
have their heads at the end of the looped ribbon design. Tails
are also shown. The animals appear to have broad snouts and
pointed ears. The two centre panels have a fretwork pattern and
uneven double-ribbon design. The top panel has a scene from the
New Testament, the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.
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Decorated Grave Slab, Cloncha
Church - Culdaff This decorated grave slab has very attractive
and elaborate carvings - is situated at the old church within
the graveyard. A number of decorations are clearly visible;
sword, foliage, cross, hurley and ball. The stone is of local
origin and the Scots-Gaelic inscription reads: Fergus Mac
Allan made this stone.
Cloncha Church - Culdaff Cloncha is the site of one of
the most important foundations in the development of
Christianity in Inishowen. It was a significant centre from
the sixth century onwards.In the early seventeenth century
when the lands and churches belonging to the Catholic
Community were confiscated, Cloncha was given to the
Protestant Church. About the middle of the seventeenth century
the church was rebuilt, it was used for worship up to 1827. In
1880 the church and burial ground were declared a National
Monument and after two and a half centuries it passed back to
the Catholic Church once again. The burial ground continued to
be used by both Catholics and Protestants up to 1935.
Continue on this road to the junction at the Catholic Church,
take a right turn here, past Bogwood Studio, right side road
is the Temple of Deen
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Temple of Deen - Culdaff The Temple of
Deen is situated on the opposite side of the road to Bocan standing
stones, on top of the hill of Deen in the townland of Larahirl. This was
a place of worship where the Druids came to pray. Bocan area was
important or significant in spiritual terms to people of that day. Go to
Moville and follow signs for Derry. About 2km northwest of Moville are
Cooley Cross and Skull House, which is signposted |
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