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Early Christian Sites in County Donegal Ardara Ballygorman Bavan Binion Bruckless Carndonagh Carrowmore Carrowreagh Cloncha Clonleigh Clontallagh (Mevagh) Conwal Culdaff Doon Drumhallagh Lower Dunlewy Far Fahan Garten Glencolumbkille Glengad Green Hill (Gortlech) Inishdooey Iniskeel Iskaheen Kilcar Kilcashel Killaghtee Killybegs Killycolman (Rathmullen) Leck Lough Derg Magheranaul Malin Beg Mamore Mevagh Moville Rathlin O’Birne Raymunterdoney Redford Glebe Slieve League St Conal’s Slabs Stroove Teelin Toome Tory Island |
St Columba has long been associated with ‘the Glen’ though how it is not clear. However he was not the first saint to be here – that honour may belong to St Fanad. The Glen has long been the focus of pilgrimage and St Conal has a place in this also. The Glen is of course famous for its ‘rounds’ or ‘turas’ and the best way to tackle its many diverse monuments is first of all to follow their course. Most of the sites are marked on the OS map. Station 2 is the prominent Pillar-slab to the W of the church OS 10 535 849 Station 4 is at Beefan. There is a altar (leacht) with Cross Slab within an enclosure with a cross on a stone in its wall. Between station 4 and 5 is a small circular structure said to be the hernitage of St Columba. 10 523 858 Station 5 consists of a small church with an altar and St Columba’s ‘bed’ or tomb-shrine. There are various other cairns or leachta with cross slabs here all within an enclosure including the church. Station 6 is a stone with an incised cross Station 7 is the Holy Well up the hill with cross slab. Nearby is his ‘chair’ on the slope above the well OS 10 565 862 Above station 7 is the site of an hermitage Station 8 is 3 cairns with altars and cross slabs within an enclosure at Ballard OS 10 528 858 Station 9 is the cross-pillar at Farranmacbride OS 10 536 851 Station 10 is the cairn & slab at Faugher OS 10 541 850 Station 11 is a cairn & slab OS 10 543 851 Station 12 is an enclosure and cross Slab at Drumroe OS 10 543 849 Station 13 is the cross slab at Gannew & Curreen OS 10 537 848 Station 14 is the altar and cross slab at Cashel OS 10 535 848 Station 15 is back at Straid. There are 3 Grave Slabs and 3 Cross Slabs in the churchyard which also has a souterrain, where once there was a monastery OS: 10 535 850 At Kilaned is St Fanad’s cell and cross slab OS: 10 532 845 At Cloghan is the site of St Cavan’s Church where now there is a 17C CH (also called the Spanard’s Church) (not marked) with a Cross Slab nearby on the road side and another on the hillside overlooking OS: 10 544 854 At Drum is St Conal’s Holy Well and Cross slabs OS: 10 540 857 At Doonalt is a Cross Slab OS: 10 519 847 At Laghill (or Kilgoly) there is ‘the Monks’ Church and early graveyard OS: 10 554 852 see: Michael Herity Gleannchlmcille see: B Lacey et al Archaeological Survey of County Donegal passim Straid etc see: Irish Monasticism, Cross Slabs and High Crosseses, Holy Wells and Holy Trees 
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