Cross-inscribed stone, Ballylosky, Co. Donegal
In the gently sloping grazing lands near the Glentogher river in County Donegal, the Kilbride site offers a fascinating glimpse into Ireland's early ecclesiastical heritage.
Cross-inscribed stone, Ballylosky, Co. Donegal
The main feature is a subrectangular enclosure measuring approximately 32 metres east to west and 20 metres north to south, with its entrance positioned in the northeast corner. The western side of the enclosure sits noticeably higher than the surrounding ground level, creating a distinctive raised profile against the landscape. Located about half a mile south of the significant Carndonagh complex, this site forms part of a broader network of early Christian monuments in the region.
Just west of the enclosure stands a remarkable stone monument that combines both Christian and possibly pre-Christian elements. This standing stone rises 1.75 metres high and measures 0.65 metres north to south, with a thickness varying between 0.34 and 0.21 metres. Its western face bears an incised cross featuring distinctive D-shaped terminals, a style characteristic of early Irish Christian art. More intriguingly, the narrow northern edge displays a shallow, incised human face; a rare feature that hints at the complex interplay between pagan and Christian traditions in early medieval Ireland.
Archaeological testing carried out in 1995 examined the area 20 metres south of the enclosure through a series of seven test trenches. While these excavations revealed varying layers of topsoil, boulder clay, and gravel, along with evidence of modern water management attempts in the marshy southern section, no archaeological features or artefacts were discovered in this particular investigation. The site remains an important example of early ecclesiastical architecture in Donegal, with its proximity to other significant monuments like the nearby souterrain adding to our understanding of how these early Christian communities organised their sacred and secular spaces.





