The site, which appeared on Ordnance Survey 6-inch maps simply marked as a ‘burial ground’, represented one of the best-preserved examples of its type in Donegal before its destruction. The oval enclosure stretched approximately 130 metres from east to west and 90 metres from north to south, with about three-quarters of its enclosing banks still visible on historical maps.

Archaeological surveys conducted before the site’s destruction revealed substantial earthen banks that defined the enclosure’s boundaries, along with the foundations of what was once a church within the sacred space. This type of ecclesiastical enclosure, where a church and burial ground were contained within a defined oval or circular boundary, represents an early form of Christian settlement in Ireland, likely dating from the early medieval period. Such sites often began as monastic settlements or important religious centres that served the surrounding community for centuries.

The loss of this site without proper excavation or recording represents a significant blow to our understanding of early Christian heritage in Donegal. These ecclesiastical enclosures are particularly rare in the county, making the destruction of such a well-preserved example all the more regrettable. The site’s oval shape, substantial size, and surviving earthworks could have provided valuable insights into the religious practices, burial customs, and community organisation of early medieval Donegal, knowledge that is now lost forever.