#: locale=en
## Tour
### Description
tour.description = Enjoy a virtual walkthrough of the church and high cross at Clonca, Inishowen, Co. Donegal. Constructed with the permission of OPW by Access Heritage Ltd.
### Title
tour.name = Clonca Church and High Cross
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Grianán of Aileach
Welcome to Grianán of Aileach, located on the summit of a hill overlooking the marshy lands which once separated Inishowen from the rest of Donegal.
The site has incredible views across much of Counties Derry, Donegal and Tyrone stretching from Barnesmore Gap in the south west to Binevenagh and the Sperrin’s to the East commanding breath-taking views along Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle. It is located c. 11km NW of the important early ecclesiastical site at Derry with which its history is closely linked.
The site is a National Monument in state ownership (No. 140) and consists of a restored cashel located within a series of three enclosing earthen banks, as well as, a 'tumulus' or cairn, a routeway or 'ancient road' and a holy well.
The cashel was first surveyed and described by Petrie in 1835 (Colby 1837, 217-232). It subsequently fell into a state of considerable disarray but was rebuilt and restored between 1874 and 1878 by Dr. Walter Bernard of Derry (Bernard 1870-9, 415--23).
The cashel is enclosed by three concentric banks, with the innermost at a distance of c. 25m from the cashel wall, which may be part of an earlier hillfort. A routeway or 'ancient road' approaches the summit of the hill between two natural ledges of rock outcrop. A cairn is located midway between the inner and middle banks to South East of the cashel entrance, and there is a holy well between the two outer banks on the Southern side of the hill.
The cashel clearly dates to the early medieval period, but the complex as a whole is likely to be multi-period. The cairn could well have been dated to the Neolithic period or the Bronze Age. The hillfort/enclosing banks are usually interpreted as a hillfort of the Late Bronze Age or Iron Age. The cashel dates to the early medieval period.
Although recent research has suggested a site in the nearby townland of Elaghmore (now inside the boundary of County Derry) has been put forward as the site of Aileach, the ancient seat of the northern Ui Neill, the monuments described above as the location of that important settlement. There is much legendary and historical material associated with Aileach and the Irish annals record its destruction in 1101.
The site was recorded on the 19/09/2020. We hope you enjoy this tour.
References:
Bernard, W. 1870-79 Exploration and restoration of the ruin of the Grianan of Aileach. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Ser. 2, 1, 415-23.
Colby, Col. 1837 Ordnance Survey of Ireland County of Londonderry. Vol. 1. Dublin.
www.Access-Heritage.com
___
Grianán of Aileach
Welcome to Grianán of Aileach, located on the summit of a hill overlooking the marshy lands which once separated Inishowen from the rest of Donegal.
The site has incredible views across much of Counties Derry, Donegal and Tyrone stretching from Barnesmore Gap in the south west to Binevenagh and the Sperrin’s to the East commanding breath-taking views along Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle. It is located c. 11km NW of the important early ecclesiastical site at Derry with which its history is closely linked.
The site is a National Monument in state ownership (No. 140) and consists of a restored cashel located within a series of three enclosing earthen banks, as well as, a 'tumulus' or cairn, a routeway or 'ancient road' and a holy well.
The cashel was first surveyed and described by Petrie in 1835 (Colby 1837, 217-232). It subsequently fell into a state of considerable disarray but was rebuilt and restored between 1874 and 1878 by Dr. Walter Bernard of Derry (Bernard 1870-9, 415--23).
The cashel is enclosed by three concentric banks, with the innermost at a distance of c. 25m from the cashel wall, which may be part of an earlier hillfort. A routeway or 'ancient road' approaches the summit of the hill between two natural ledges of rock outcrop. A cairn is located midway between the inner and middle banks to South East of the cashel entrance, and there is a holy well between the two outer banks on the Southern side of the hill.
The cashel clearly dates to the early medieval period, but the complex as a whole is likely to be multi-period. The cairn could well have been dated to the Neolithic period or the Bronze Age. The hillfort/enclosing banks are usually interpreted as a hillfort of the Late Bronze Age or Iron Age. The cashel dates to the early medieval period.
Although recent research has suggested a site in the nearby townland of Elaghmore (now inside the boundary of County Derry) has been put forward as the site of Aileach, the ancient seat of the northern Ui Neill, the monuments described above as the location of that important settlement. There is much legendary and historical material associated with Aileach and the Irish annals record its destruction in 1101.
The site was recorded on the 19/09/2020. We hope you enjoy this tour.
References:
Bernard, W. 1870-79 Exploration and restoration of the ruin of the Grianan of Aileach. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Ser. 2, 1, 415-23.
Colby, Col. 1837 Ordnance Survey of Ireland County of Londonderry. Vol. 1. Dublin.
www.Access-Heritage.com
___
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership
About Us
T: +442871163160
info@access-heritage.com
https://access-heritage.com/
Access Heritage was created in 2020 to build upon the experiences of its Co-Founders Gavin Donaghy and Cormac Duffy in the Heritage, Community outreach and Archaeology sectors to bring a new range of services to our customers. Digital Heritage has been a slowly growing industry over the past decade and has taken a quantum leap in both technology and in outlets for that information.
This digital revolution enables us to take huge strides in the implementation of new media to provide unique solutions to our clients. In the field of archaeology it means faster excavation and recording in much greater detail from surveying to analysis. In the heritage sector this means the development of 3D Scanning, virtual tours and digital atlas's to promote and present a digital legacy with a time capsule of a monument or place. Community outreach has never been more interconnected with all of the digital heritage solutions described above being disseminated through new platforms and social media brining more information to communities.
Our team has over 20 years of experience in the Heritage, Archaeology and Community sectors and is up to date in the latest technologies and solutions. Contact us today to see how we can help you.
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www.loremipsum.com
info@loremipsum.com
Tlf.: +11 111 111 111
Company Name
www.loremipsum.com
info@loremipsum.com
Tlf.: +11 111 111 111
About Us
T: +442871163160
info@access-heritage.com
https://access-heritage.com/
Access Heritage was created in 2020 to build upon the experiences of its Co-Founders Gavin Donaghy and Cormac Duffy in the Heritage, Community outreach and Archaeology sectors to bring a new range of services to our customers. Digital Heritage has been a slowly growing industry over the past decade and has taken a quantum leap in both technology and in outlets for that information.
This digital revolution enables us to take huge strides in the implementation of new media to provide unique solutions to our clients. In the field of archaeology it means faster excavation and recording in much greater detail from surveying to analysis. In the heritage sector this means the development of 3D Scanning, virtual tours and digital atlas's to promote and present a digital legacy with a time capsule of a monument or place. Community outreach has never been more interconnected with all of the digital heritage solutions described above being disseminated through new platforms and social media brining more information to communities.
Our team has over 20 years of experience in the Heritage, Archaeology and Community sectors and is up to date in the latest technologies and solutions. Contact us today to see how we can help you.
The 'Magnus and Fergus' grave slab is one of two grave slabs on the NE wall of the church. This measures 1.85m long × 0.55m to .44m wide. The slab is decorated with a cross, foliage, a two-handed Scottish Claymore sword, a curved stick (known as a camán) and ball. The Scots Gaelic inscription reads “Magnus mac Orristin ia fo triat seo” (Magnus Mac Orristin of the Isles under this mound). “Fergus mac Allan do rini in clach sa” (Fergus Mac Allan made this stone).
In the field to the west of the graveyard is the stem and part of one arm of a restored, decorated, stone cross which has been carved from a single slab and is 3.95m high. The east face of the shaft is divided into four panels. The bottom panel consists of two spirals one on top of the other. These begin with triangular knots at the centre and end with zoomorphic designs.
The second panel from the bottom is covered with an irregular fret-pattern. The third panel consists of a double-banded interlace and the top panel (incomplete) shows a figure seated on a chair holding up a circular 'plate' on which are five small 'buns' arranged in the form of a cross. Beneath this, and pointing towards the figure's legs, is a small fish and on top a larger fish.
A carved stone bearing a mallet and chisel-like tool above an inscription reading (?) An O'Dubdagan do Ri (gne? cl) og so do Domnall o. (R?). O'Dubdagan who made this stone for Domnall O R. (Macalister 1949, 115-6, No. 948).
Located 70m West of the church and graveyard this high cross is recorded.
The head of the cross is 1.68m high and was originally more than 1m across the arms. The head is imperforate, and the cylinders are attached to the inner surface of the ring. Around the edges of both shaft there is a roll moulding. At the centre of the head there is a roundel with five interconnected C-shapes with their backs to a central boss with central depression. A similar roundel is found on the shaft, while that on the top may have had a fretwork pattern. Stored in the ruined church nearby is an arm-fragment which presumably belonged to this cross. One side is decorated with a roundel very similar to that in the centre of the cross, while the roundel on the other side is much abraded, and may have borne an interlace pattern'. The base measures c. 1.30m wide and 1.40m broad.
P. Harbison (2002) The High Crosses of Ireland: An Iconographical and Photographic Survey, 3 vols., Habelt, Bonn, vol. 1. 44-5.