Burial ground, Oirear Dhumhaí Mór, Co. Donegal
Hidden in the low-lying fields of Oirear Dhumhaí Mór in County Donegal lies an ancient burial ground that has vanished from modern maps and memory.
Burial ground, Oirear Dhumhaí Mór, Co. Donegal
Though the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map shows no trace of this cemetery, the site once served as a final resting place for generations of local inhabitants. Today, the area appears unremarkable; just level ground with good grazing land, situated roughly 500 metres south of the Donegal coastline.
The burial ground’s existence is preserved primarily through archaeological records rather than physical remains. Its documentation comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled in 1983 by Brian Lacey and his team of researchers. This survey catalogued field antiquities throughout the county, spanning from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century, ensuring that sites like this forgotten cemetery weren’t completely lost to history.
What makes this particular site intriguing is its complete disappearance from the landscape. Unlike many ancient burial grounds in Ireland that retain some visible features such as weathered headstones, boundary walls, or uneven ground, this cemetery has been so thoroughly reclaimed by nature and agriculture that no surface evidence remains. Its story survives only in archaeological records, a reminder of how easily centuries of local history can fade into the surrounding fields without careful documentation and preservation efforts.