This ancient site in Dristernan came to light unexpectedly during road widening works, when human bones were uncovered beneath the soil. Today, visitors to the area would find no visible trace of the burial ground; the field has been thoroughly cultivated and slopes gently southward, offering views across the Gleneely River valley.

The discovery highlights how much of Ireland’s archaeological heritage lies hidden beneath seemingly ordinary agricultural land. While the exact age and extent of the burial ground remain uncertain, such sites typically date from early Christian times through to the post-medieval period, serving local communities for centuries. The bones discovered during the roadworks were likely just a fraction of what remains beneath the surface, silently marking a place where generations of local families once laid their dead to rest.

This information comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled in 1983 by Brian Lacey and his team of archaeologists. Their work documented field antiquities across the county spanning from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century, preserving records of sites like Killycooley that might otherwise be forgotten. Though the burial ground itself has vanished from view, its story remains part of Donegal’s rich archaeological tapestry, a reminder that Ireland’s history often lies just beneath our feet.