Though the church that is situated at Clonca is a primitive ‘planters’ church dating to the early 17th century it was built on the site of a 6th century monastic settlement associated with St Baudan. The church dates to around the 1620s and was only in use up to 1827 it does incorporate many earlier elements such as the somewhat Romanesque lintel above the doorway. Inside the church are two graveslabs, one which is poorly faded and a second that is in a remarkably good state. This late medieval graveslab is believed to be that of a Gallowglass warrior and a Scotsman named Magnus MacOrristin. The slab depicts a sword and a ‘shinty’ stick or a hurl, I say a shinty stick as that would be the sport which MacOrristin would have been more accustomed to in his day. Shinty is a sport that is derived from the same origins as Irish Hurling and is still played in the highlands of Scotland, where many of the Gallowglass warriors would have originated from. This graveslab is absolutely fascinating both in relation to how well preserved it is but also how striking it is to see the image of a hurl depicted on something of such antiquity.
In a field next to the church stands one absolutely monumental high cross and a second that’s lying on the ground, which unfortunately I did not spot on the day of my visit. The standing cross is a colossal 4 metres in height and is beautifully decorated. It has some beautiful interlaced designs and contains images of two kneeling animals alongside two seated figures seated below them, which some state is Saints Paul and Anthony. Another panel depicts the story of the ‘loaves and the fishes’ along with a range of decorative fretwork pattern. Overall this cross is in an absolutely fine state considering the weathering it have been affected by on the Inishowen peninsula! The church is situated near an ancient bog roadway which it is believed leads to Carrowmore High Cross, around 2kms away and shows the importance of both early ecclesiastical sites.
GPS: 55.26774, -7.17373