Graveyard, Finner, Co. Donegal
On level ground east of Finner Hill in County Donegal, a curious D-shaped graveyard contains the atmospheric ruins of a former church.
Graveyard, Finner, Co. Donegal
The graveyard itself presents an intriguing archaeological puzzle; whilst clearly D-shaped in its current form and surrounded by a modern stone wall, there’s no evidence to suggest the circular enclosure was ever completed. This incomplete circle hints at either an unfinished original design or perhaps later modifications that have been lost to time.
At the northern end of the enclosure stand the ivy-covered remains of what was once a functioning church, measuring approximately 16.1 metres by 5.35 metres internally. Historical records indicate this was a chapel-of-ease as early as 1600, and Ordnance Survey maps show it was still in use during the 1830s. However, by the mid-19th century, the building had already fallen into ruin. The surviving walls, built from rubble with pinnings and some brick dressings, tell a story of at least two distinct building phases; the western 11.9 metres appears to be the original structure, identifiable by an exterior batter about half a metre high on the north and south walls.
The eastern section of the church appears to be a later addition, possibly dating to the 17th century based on the small brick size used in construction. This extension features a large central window in the eastern gable with splayed ingoings and a round-headed brick rear arch, sitting above an external plinth of 10 to 15 centimetres. Today, the walls stand between 3.5 and 4 metres high, though significant sections have collapsed; the northwest corner has completely vanished, and large gaps pierce the southern wall. Intriguingly, the lower courses of another structure’s north wall can be seen extending westward from the church, suggesting this site may have once hosted additional buildings now lost to history.





