The site centres around a ruined 18th-century church, itself likely built upon much older foundations, surrounded by a graveyard that has served the local community for generations. Set within a strip of fertile land amongst otherwise rough pasture that slopes down towards the Clonmany river, this modest collection of ruins represents a place of worship that has endured through dramatic changes in Irish history.

The most intriguing feature of the site lies just 14 metres from the church’s southeast corner: a flat stone measuring roughly 30 by 52 centimetres, marked with two small cup-like depressions. Local tradition holds that these are the knee-prints of St. Colmcille (also known as St. Columba), presumably left when the saint knelt in prayer at this sacred spot. Such physical markers connecting saints to specific locations are common throughout Ireland, serving as tangible links between communities and their spiritual heritage. The association with Colmcille, one of Ireland’s three patron saints alongside Patrick and Brigid, suggests this site held considerable religious significance from early Christian times.

Historical records from 1600 mention a castle, likely a fortified stone house, standing beside the church and inhabited by a priest named Amerson. This detail offers a glimpse into the complex religious landscape of early 17th-century Donegal, when Catholic clergy often required protection whilst continuing their ministry during periods of religious persecution. Though no trace of this defensive structure remains visible today and its exact location has been lost to time, its documented presence adds another layer to the site’s rich ecclesiastical history.