Ecclesiastical enclosure, Ballylosky, Co. Donegal

Ecclesiastical enclosure, Ballylosky, Co. Donegal

Marked as Kilbride on the Ordnance Survey 6-inch maps, this early ecclesiastical site in County Donegal consists of a subrectangular enclosure measuring approximately 32 metres east to west and 20 metres north to south.

Ecclesiastical enclosure, Ballylosky, Co. Donegal

The enclosure features an entrance in its northeast corner, whilst the western side sits raised above the surrounding ground level. The site occupies gently sloping grazing land that descends westward towards the Glentogher river, situated roughly half a mile south of the notable Carndonagh complex.

Just west of the enclosure stands a remarkable stone monument, rising 1.75 metres high and measuring 0.65 metres north to south, with a thickness varying from 0.34 to 0.21 metres. The western face bears an incised cross with distinctive D-shaped terminals, whilst the narrow northern edge displays a shallow, incised human face; both carvings hint at the site’s religious significance and artistic traditions of early medieval Ireland. These features, along with a nearby souterrain, form part of a broader archaeological landscape documented in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal.



Archaeological testing carried out in July 1995, approximately 20 metres south of the enclosure, revealed little in the way of additional features. Seven test trenches excavated down to natural boulder clay or gravel uncovered standard soil stratigraphy, with one trench showing evidence of modern water management and possible attempts to fill marshy ground with boulders. Whilst no archaeological finds emerged from this particular investigation, the site remains an intriguing example of early ecclesiastical settlement in Donegal, its carved stone standing as a tangible link to the area’s Christian heritage.

Rated 0 out of 5

Good to Know

Tags

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of IrishHistory.com
IrishHistory.com
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Ecclesiastical enclosure, Ballylosky, Co. Donegal. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 50 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Ballylosky, Co. Donegal
55.2444862, -7.26863867
55.2444862,-7.26863867
Ballylosky 
Ecclesiastical Sites 

Related Places