Church, Tully More (Ballyarr Ed), Co. Donegal
On a gentle hill north of the River Lennan in County Donegal, a modern graveyard marks what local tradition holds to be the site of an early Christian church.
Church, Tully More (Ballyarr Ed), Co. Donegal
The location, known as Church, Tully More in the Ballyarr Electoral Division, sits amidst well-maintained agricultural land that has likely been cultivated for generations. Whilst no visible remains of the original church structure survive above ground, the continuity of burial at this spot suggests its enduring significance to the local community.
The site was documented in the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983. This survey catalogued field antiquities throughout the county, spanning from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century, providing invaluable insights into Donegal’s rich archaeological heritage. The brief description from Leslie’s 1940 work, which the survey references, indicates that even by the mid-20th century, only the graveyard remained as tangible evidence of the site’s ecclesiastical past.
Such locations are common throughout rural Ireland, where early medieval churches once served small communities before falling into disuse during later centuries. The persistence of burial grounds at these sites, even after the churches themselves have vanished, speaks to the deep-rooted respect for consecrated ground in Irish culture. Without excavation, it’s impossible to confirm the exact date or nature of any church that may have stood here, but the topographical setting; a raised position near water; is typical of early Christian ecclesiastical sites in Ireland.





