Aighan Ecclesiastical Enclosure and Holy Well

A site known as the 'Relig' consists of an oblong area 31.8m NE-SW by 21m NW-SE enclosed by a wall 1.65m in width. A laneway bounds the site on the SE, and the NW side runs along the top of a small rock cliff. At the NE end of the interior are 7 small cairns. One cairn (DG098-001002-), subcircular in plan, is 4.35m NE-SW × 3.2m NW-SE and 1.13m in height. On top of the cairn are: (1) A slab .75m × 0.22m × 0.16m with a U-shaped notch 7cms × 8cms cut in the top (DG098-001003-). (2) A slab .51m × 0.17m × 0.13m. This also had a notch on top but one side is broken off. The notch was 6cms × 4.5cms. Patterson (1870-71) claims that a dumbbell shaped 'healing stone' was left in one of these notches when not in use. Also on top of the cairn is a cross-inscribed slab (DG098-001004-) .59m × 0.35m × 0.07m. This is decorated on both faces. Face A: A Greek bar cross with a thin line forming a second cross inside the first. There is a circle at the centre of the bar cross. There is an × design in each of the quarters formed by the bar cross. Face B: A thin line Greek cross with a circle at the centre rests oil a raised area. Along the rock cliff face at the NW side of the site a D-shaped dressed piece of rock juts out, forming a seat-like feature (DG098-001005-). It is known as St. Conall's bed. Patterson records that a 'bullaun or primitive font' (DG098-001007-) was taken from the site in the last century. Nearby is St. Conall's holy well (DG098-002001-) which is surrounded by a penitential cairn (DG098-002002-). In the cairn is a roughly triangular stone with a U-notch on one side. The site is located on undulating pasture land with rock outcrop. The site was used in the last century as a burial ground for unbaptised children (DG098-001008). This site is also known as 'Bruckless'. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

A local fairy fort (ringfort/rath); wider significance not recorded.