These stone shields can be found in strategic positions around the palace’s towers: one set into the north wall of the southeast tower, another in the south wall of the northeast tower, whilst the Leslie Coat of Arms occupies pride of place on the east face of the northeast tower. Each plaque represents a different chapter in the complex history of this episcopal seat, where bishops and noble families left their marks in stone for posterity.

The palace once boasted a fourth armorial plaque, documented by the antiquarian Beaufort during his visit in 1787. This missing piece of heraldic history hasn’t vanished entirely though; it’s believed to be the very same plaque that now graces the front garden of a house on William Street in Raphoe town. How it made its journey from palace wall to suburban garden remains a mystery, though such relocations weren’t uncommon during periods when ancient buildings fell into disrepair and their dressed stones were seen as convenient building materials for newer constructions.

These armorial plaques serve as more than mere decoration; they’re historical documents carved in stone, recording the succession of power and influence in ecclesiastical Raphoe. The Archaeological Survey of County Donegal has catalogued these monuments meticulously, assigning them reference numbers DG070-003009, 010, 011, and 012, ensuring their place in Ireland’s archaeological record. For visitors seeking tangible connections to Ireland’s aristocratic and religious past, these weathered shields offer a direct link to the families who shaped this region’s destiny centuries ago.