Graveyard, Drumnahough, Co. Donegal
In the countryside of Drumnahough, County Donegal, a small church sits within an active graveyard, both having served the local community for generations.
Graveyard, Drumnahough, Co. Donegal
The site occupies a pleasant spot on fertile land near a distinctive sharp bend in the River Swilly, where the landscape has been shaped by both natural forces and centuries of human activity.
Just outside the eastern wall of the graveyard, beside a stream, lies an intriguing boulder measuring roughly 75cm by 50cm by 35cm. This stone features a carved basin, about 20cm wide and 13cm deep, suggesting it once played a role in local religious or folk practices. When archaeologists visited the site, they noted a thorn tree growing beside the boulder, its branches decorated with cloth rags; a tradition often associated with holy wells and healing rituals in Irish folklore. Interestingly, whilst Ordnance Survey maps from the 19th century mark a holy well near this boulder, no trace of it remains today.
The archaeological records for this site come from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983. This survey documented field antiquities throughout the county, spanning from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century, providing valuable insights into how places like Drumnahough have been used and reused across millennia.





