The two high crosses at Carrowmore on the Inishowen Peninsula are the most visible remnants of what was an early ecclesiastical site founded by either St Chonas or St Patrick himself depending on your sources. This early church was known as ‘Both Chonais’, ‘both’ being the Irish for ‘hut’, the link with St Patrick is that Chonas was the second husband of Patrick’s sister Darerca. The two crosses measure around three metres in height and are now separated by a road passing through the site . The West Cross has no carvings, short arms and it is believed it may date to the 7^th century. The East Cross has a carving of Christ wearing a long robe, he is flanked on either side by angels, again the rudimentary nature of this cross would give it an earlier date than the one at nearby Clonca. There is further evidence of the former monastery that was once situated at Carrowmore with a bullaun stone, holy well and at least one cross slab in close proximity.

There are a few mentions of Both Chonais in the Dúchas Schools Collection of the 1930s and I quite liked this verse from a poem called Both Chonais written by Patrick Doherty and collected by Brigid Doherty in Tehoran, Clonmany. I think it represents the echoes of history one can feel at Carrowmore, with so much of its story lost to time,

There are a few mentions of Both Chonais in the Dúchas Schools Collection of the 1930s and I quite liked this verse from a poem called Both Chonais written by Patrick Doherty and collected by Brigid Doherty in Tehoran, Clonmany. I think it represents the echoes of history one can feel at Carrowmore, with so much of its story lost to time.

“No more the music of its bells,

At golden morn or evening dim,

Along these hills and valleys swells,

No fervent prayer or vesper hymn,

Are chanted there by votive monks.

Where tillers rest from scythes and ploughs,

Huge ancient trees with mossy trunks,

Alone keep vigil o’er it now”