Cross-slab, Dún Lúiche Íochtarach, Co. Donegal
At the southern base of Errigal mountain in County Donegal, beside the Devlin river and the southeastern end of Dunlewy Lough, lies a fascinating early Christian site known as Dún Lúiche Íochtarach.
Cross-slab, Dún Lúiche Íochtarach, Co. Donegal
The remains consist of a subcircular enclosure, its boundaries still traceable through the fragmentary stone wall that once defined this sacred space. Within the western portion of the enclosure, the ruins of a stone building survive to just 30 centimetres in height, measuring 8 metres east to west and 5 metres north to south internally, with openings visible in the middle of both the northern and southern walls.
The southeastern quadrant of the enclosure contains a remarkable scatter of stones that holds several significant features. Most notable is a cross-slab standing half a metre high atop a low mound of stones in the northwest area of this scatter. Measuring 24 centimetres wide and 8 centimetres thick, the slab bears a grooved cross on its western face, complete with forked extremities at the ends of the arms and shaft, whilst the centre features a small depression encircled by two concentric rings. South of the cross-slab stand two additional stone slabs, and partially encircling the cross on its southern side is a semicircular arrangement of loose stones, 3 metres wide and 30 centimetres high.
Historical records from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology in 1857 mention four circular buildings within the enclosure, each approximately 14 feet in diameter, positioned to the south and southeast of the centre, though these structures are no longer clearly visible. The site occupies level ground in what remains wet but fair pasture, offering a glimpse into the religious and communal life of early medieval Ireland. This description draws from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983, with subsequent revisions bringing the information up to date.





