Dungiven Priory and O'Cahan's Tomb

The ruins of the priory in Dungiven Grid reference C692083

This old place of worship was built as a monastery in the 11th century before the Normans arrived. It then became an Augustinian Priory, was later incorporated in a plantation manor house and is now a rather romantic ruin, perched high on a rock with the view over the river Roe obscured by lush undergrowth.

In the 13th century a chancel was added and the site became the traditional burying ground of the O'Cahans. Inside the chancel is this magnificent tomb with the sculpture of an armed man lying under a canopy of open work tracery. The body is covered by a sword. Below him are six niches containing the small figures of armed warriors wearing kilts. The sculpture is of a very high quality, so much so that the tomb is unique in Ulster, possibly in Ireland. Two of the six.

O'Cahan's Tomb

It is reputed to be the tomb of Cooey-na-Gal O'Cahan, who died in 1385. 'Cooey-na-Gal' means "Terror of the Stranger", so the fact that he is lying here rather than stalking the valley is a great relief to the average tourist. The Ordnance Survey memoirs relate that the name of the dead chieftain so annoyed a troop of Scottish Highlanders who were stationed in Dungiven around the end of the 18th century, that they decided to take revenge and vandalised the monument quite considerably. Their efforts were wasted, because the romantic legend of Cooey-na-Gal is thought to be not entirely correct because much of the site was built in the 15th century - long after our xenophobic friend had died. However, it is assumed that an O'Cahan is buried here, possibly Aibhne O'Cahan, who was murdered in 1492. Most of the priory is an open air affair, surrounded by old graves and the foundations of the old manor. The chancel is roofed over and access to the tomb is blocked by a large wooden door. Small windows are provided, but it is so dark in there that very little detail of the tomb can be made out.

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