Structure, Binnion, Co. Donegal

Structure, Binnion, Co. Donegal

On the southwest slope of Binnion Hill in County Donegal, a modest earthen bank traces out an oval enclosure that once served as the Killoran Burial Ground.

Structure, Binnion, Co. Donegal

Measuring 18 metres east to west and 15 metres north to south, this ancient cemetery contains a remarkable collection of early Christian monuments. Within its boundaries stand three stone crosses of varying sizes and states of preservation: a cross-inscribed stone, what appears to be a broken cross, and a smaller intact cross. The enclosure also preserves the outline of a rectangular foundation, roughly 5.5 by 4 metres, aligned along an east-west axis; likely the remains of a small church or oratory.

Just west of the main enclosure, where the land drops away to a rocky platform, archaeologists have identified two more foundations. One appears circular in plan whilst the other, positioned to its north, is rectangular. Further northeast, two additional possible foundations hint at a more extensive settlement than first appears. These structures outside the burial ground may have served as dwellings for those who tended the site, or perhaps accommodated pilgrims visiting what was clearly an important religious centre.

The site occupies a relatively flat platform amidst otherwise rough and rocky terrain, commanding impressive views along the Donegal coastline. This strategic positioning, typical of early Irish ecclesiastical sites, would have provided both practical advantages and spiritual significance to those who established and used this sacred space. The combination of burial ground, crosses, and associated structures paints a picture of a thriving early Christian community that once flourished on this windswept hillside.

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Binnion, Co. Donegal
55.27700233, -7.42331439
55.27700233,-7.42331439
Binnion 
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