Cross-slab, Conwal, Co. Donegal
Nestled on the southeastern slopes of Glendoon Hill above the River Swilly, Conwal Graveyard offers a fascinating glimpse into Ireland's early Christian heritage.
Cross-slab, Conwal, Co. Donegal
This still-active cemetery sits on the site of an ecclesiastical settlement that may date back to the 7th century, making it one of County Donegal’s most significant historical locations. The graveyard contains the ruins of an old church, a holy well, and an impressive collection of carved stone monuments that speak to centuries of continuous religious use.
The site underwent significant tidying in 1968, during which a grassy rectangular mound perpendicular to the church’s south wall was transformed into a carefully constructed stone cairn. This flat-topped structure now serves as a display platform for numerous historical graveslabs, including six upright stones bearing cruciform designs, one depicting a human figure, and three that remain uninscribed. Among the most notable pieces is a cross-slab measuring 73cm by 29cm, featuring a simple cross formed with a broad groove that covers nearly the entire face of the stone, though the right side has broken away over time.
The cairn itself has become a repository of local history, topped with a paved surface of grave-slabs and featuring twelve additional stones; one dating to the late 19th century whilst the others remain plain and uninscribed, some displaying the distinctive trapezoidal shape common to early Irish grave markers. Five cross slabs lie loose on the cairn’s surface, with three more recumbent cross-slabs set directly into the structure. This remarkable assemblage of carved stones, combined with the site’s ancient church ruins and holy well, makes Conwal Graveyard a compelling destination for anyone interested in Ireland’s early Christian period and the evolution of commemorative stone carving traditions.





