‘Significant’ medieval site near Moville included in Heritage Council scheme

The Cooley cross and graveyard, near Moville is one of five monuments across Ireland that have been selected for inclusion in the Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument Scheme 2024. 

Working in partnership with communities and State bodies, the Adopt a Monument Scheme helps to ensure the sustainable future of the adopted monuments. It also offers communities a way of promoting pride in place and pride in Ireland’s past, as well as opportunities to develop and understand the story of a locality, to work collaboratively, to get active, participate in community development and to boost tourism, business and employment opportunities.

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The move follows months of concern about access to the state-owned monument with visitors regularly finding it closed without prior notice

The scheme offers communities expertise, mentoring and support to help them to care for their local heritage. 

Cooley is the site of an early medieval church and cross and overlooks Lough Foyle. It is one of five monuments across Ireland have been selected for inclusion in the scheme for 2024.

The Heritage Council said the monument is a significant early church site on a hill above Moville. The site of an important early cross, it includes the ruins of an ancient church and a stone tomb structure known as the Skull House. The graveyard contains a number of interesting grave markers.Moville Tidy Towns was successful in its application to be part of the scheme and the group is  is keen to ensure the long-term preservation of this site and promote it as a local attraction. A spokesperson for the group said it is “delighted the Cooley Cross and graveyard are now part of this wonderful scheme”.The Adopt a Monument Scheme is an initiative of The Heritage Council and is managed by Abarta Heritage. Support in surveying and investigation work for several sites will be provided by the Discovery Programme, which is the State’s archaeological research institute.Speaking about the sites chosen, chief executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan said: “As custodians of our nation's heritage, we recognise that this Scheme is not merely about safeguarding our historic monuments; it's about safeguarding our collective memory, our identity, and our stories, and the active involvement of local communities is paramount. We aim to empower these individuals, providing them with the resources and support they need to make a tangible difference. The impact of caring for our local monuments transcends mere restoration; it fosters a profound sense of pride within communities, transforming sometimes forgotten spaces into vibrant ones, and presents an opportunity to educate through community engagement.”