This modest burial ground at Kilwarry measures roughly 26 to 27 metres across and sits on the western slope of a small valley, surrounded by good grazing land. The site’s boundary consists of a modern stone wall, carefully constructed atop the remnants of a much older, collapsed structure that once defined this sacred space. Today, thick vegetation has reclaimed much of the area, whilst a contemporary field boundary cuts straight through the middle, dividing the ancient site in two.

The circular shape of this burial ground is particularly intriguing, as it may suggest origins far older than typical parish graveyards. Such subcircular enclosures in Ireland often indicate early Christian or even pre-Christian use, though without excavation, the true age of Kilwarry’s cemetery remains a mystery. The collapsed earlier wall beneath the modern stonework hints at centuries, if not millennia, of continuous use as a place of burial and remembrance.

This description comes from the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, a comprehensive catalogue compiled in 1983 that documents the county’s field antiquities from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century. The survey, undertaken by a team of archaeologists led by Brian Lacey, provides one of the most thorough records of Donegal’s archaeological heritage, capturing sites like this small burial ground that might otherwise fade from memory as nature slowly reclaims them.