Church, Eskaheen, Co. Donegal
On high ground overlooking Lough Foyle in County Donegal, the remnants of Eskaheen Church offer a glimpse into centuries of Irish ecclesiastical history.
Church, Eskaheen, Co. Donegal
Local tradition holds that this site hosted an early religious foundation, though today only fragments of the church building remain alongside a still active graveyard. The church itself saw continuous use until the close of the seventeenth century, when it was finally abandoned.
What survives of the original structure is modest but intriguing: a portion of the western gable wall, measuring 4.4 metres in internal length, and a small section of the southern wall. This southern fragment contains a segment-headed opening that archaeologists believe may have served as either a door or window, though its exact purpose remains uncertain. These weathered stones represent all that’s left of what was once a focal point for the local community’s spiritual life.
The site’s elevated position wasn’t chosen by accident; from here, the views across Lough Foyle would have provided both practical advantages and perhaps spiritual inspiration to those who worshipped within these walls. The graveyard continues to serve the local community, ensuring that even as the church has crumbled, the site maintains its sacred character and connection to both the living and the dead of Eskaheen.