Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCross - High cross
- Date or period mentioned1778
- Recorded sizedims of base 0.6m x 0.3m; H 3.21m
What to look for
- Base
- Inscription
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
On a small hillock in Tullaghan village. A plain upright Latin cross (dims of base 0.6m x 0.3m; H 3.21m) with slightly expanded arms is set in a chamfered sandstone base (dims 1.4m x 1.04m; H 0.87m).
Full archaeological record 177 words
On a small hillock in Tullaghan village. A plain upright Latin cross (dims of base 0.6m x 0.3m; H 3.21m) with slightly expanded arms is set in a chamfered sandstone base (dims 1.4m x 1.04m; H 0.87m). It leans slightly to the W and was erected here in 1778 according to the inscription on its base, while local tradition maintains that the cross was found at the foreshore of Donegal Bay c. 300m to N (Wakeman 1896, 299). Archaeological testing (00E0486) in the vicinity failed to recover any archaeological features (Halpin 2002), as did testing (03E0504) c. 50m to the SE across the road (Timoney 2006), or immediately (05E0502) to the NE (Timoney 2008). (Crawford 1907, 213 14; O'Connell 1937, 208-10)
Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 178) as 'A tall, ringless and undecorated cross, with straight arms but an expanding upper limb and a shaft tapering near the top, was uncovered by a sandstorm on the coast at Tullaghan and subsequently erected to the north of the new Sligo Bundoran road. It is about 4.25m high.’
References
- Date of revised upload: 13 February 2017
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Based on the The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
It leans slightly to the W and was erected here in 1778 according to the inscription on its base, while local tradition maintains that the cross was found at the foreshore of Donegal Bay c. 300m to N (Wakeman 1896, 299).
More high crosses nearby
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Around Tullaghan Cross
Other heritage nearby
- Bunduff WellHoly well · 3.0 km
- Aghaderrard Court TombMegalithic tomb · 7.0 km
- Cormac Reagh's HoleCave · 7.2 km
- Creevykeel Court TombMegalithic tomb · 7.5 km
- St Bridget's WellHoly well · 9.4 km
- Assaroe FallsWaterfall · 9.4 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 34 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 17 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 stone circleArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 promontory fortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Bunduff River WalkWalking Trail · 1.2 km · nearest point 3.1 km
- Ballyshannon Cycle Hub Loop 2Road Cycling Trail · 35.6 km · nearest point 3.8 km
- Creevy Coastal WalkWalking Trail · 3.7 km · nearest point 7.1 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- BundoranBeaches · 3.7 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Mullaghmore BeachBeaches · 7.7 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- St Johns Point LighthouseHistoric stays · 14 km
Other attractions nearby
- Find My IrelandNature and Wildlife · 3.7 km
- Bundoran BeachNatural Landscape · 3.7 km
- Fairy Bridges and Wishing ChairNatural Landscape · 4.5 km
- Tullan StrandBeach · 4.7 km
What's on nearby
- Allingham Arts Festival 20262026-11-05 · 9.8 km
- Allingham Arts Festival 20262026-11-06 · 9.8 km
- Allingham Arts Festival 20262026-11-07 · 9.8 km
Excavations nearby
- 04E0012 Magheracar 1, County DonegalRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 3.0 km
- 04E0098 Magheracar 2, County DonegalRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 3.7 km



