dungiven priory church and o cahans tomb

Its earliest part is the nave, probably erected in the 12th century when the Augustinian Canons took over an earlier monastery associated with St Nechtan. The exterior east end of the nave still preserves slight extensions of the north and south walls beyond the gable ends. More unusual is the blind arcading still traceable in the eastern interior corners of the nave, which helps to provide a date no earlier than the second quarter of the twelfth century. Now closed off from the nave by a wooden partition is the chancel which, together with its once fine stone vault, was added in the 13th century. During the 14th century, the vault was renewed and a highly decorative tomb with flamboyant tracery was inserted int he north wall of the chancel. Six gallowglasses (armoured mercenaries of Scottish ancestry) on the side are surmounted on top by a knightly effigy traditionally said to be that of Cooey na nGall O'Cahan who died in 1385, but which may be a century later. The O'Cahans were the local ruling family in the Later Middle Ages.