Ballykeeran, forest recreation place in County Donegal

What is recorded here

Ballykeeran is a forest recreation place near Kilmacrennan. Coillte connects this area with Doon Rock, where O'Donnell chieftains were inaugurated and where the last such ceremony took place in 1603, and with nearby Gartan, the birthplace of St Columcille.

From Coillte ballykeeran

Places near here

Picture notes

Computer-made picture. It does not show this walking route.
Kenneth Allen, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.
Chris Gunns, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Percita at Flickr, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Steven Brown, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.
Malene Thyssen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ballykeeran Forest trailOfficial walking route · 83 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this walking route.

Explorer Tom Ballykeeran Forest trail is a one-kilometre loop that takes an hour? That’s not walking; that’s meditating with bad posture. Some local swears he invented the concept of 'slow' right here. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography before you leave.

St. Columba's Catholic ChurchChurch/chapel · 1192 yd

Explorer Tom St. Columba’s Catholic Church was built in 1903 and features granite quoins and attractive stained glass windows. The corbelled eaves give it a muted Norman feel without trying too hard. Check out those round-headed openings, they’re quite the charmer.

Bullaun stone in MassreaghBullaun stone · 1194 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Bullaun stone in Massreagh is just a tiny square block sitting by the road. It’s so small that I think it might be a pebble pretending to be a rock. Who would carve such a little dimple?

Kilmacrenan Old ChurchChurch/chapel, graveyard/cemetery · 1200 yd

Explorer Tom Kilmacrenan Old Church has been around since after 1622. They wainscoted the interior back in 1733, which is a bit fancy for ruins, if you ask me. The graveyard next door keeps things quiet and respectful.

Inauguration stone in Kilmacrenan (kilmacrenan Ed)Inauguration stone · 1218 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Inauguration stone in Kilmacrenan had a footprint that looked like it belonged to someone with seriously oversized boots! I bet Ó Domhnaill had to jump on one leg just to fit his feet into the mould. If Mr. Mac Swine broke it up, he probably kicked off his own shoes first.

EdenacarnanMountain / peak · 1.5 miTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.

Explorer Tom Edenacarnan holds a secret in its townland name, where Marcagh's Knowe used to mark the spot. It is now just a levelled mound on good agricultural land, hiding whatever ancient structure once stood there. I wonder if Marcagh would be pleased his legacy is now mostly a very flat hill.

Battle at Doon Rock, KilmacrennanBattle · 2.1 mi

Silver Birch2.1 mi

Explorer Tom Silver Birch in County Donegal is showing off its white skin like a movie star. It's very flaky, literally, and needs permission to shed its leaves without embarrassment. Tell it to keep those peels coming for the birds.

The LagoonRestaurant · 2.2 mi

Explorer Tom The Lagoon sounds like a place where your food will swim away if you blink. Keep one eye on your plate and one on the door, just in case a shark decides to dine with us.

Mullan HillMountain / peak · 2.3 miTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.

Explorer Tom Mullan Hill in County Donegal is the perfect spot to forget your phone exists for exactly ten minutes. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes, unless you want to die of boredom.

Children's playground4.1 miTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.

Explorer Tom Children's playground in County Donegal is likely covered in mud that has seen better centuries. The slides are probably rusted to a perfect shade of brown. Go in good boots and a much better humour.

European Beech4.5 mi

Explorer Tom European Beech in County Donegal is just a tree, but make it sound important or people will think you’re wasting time. It’s probably plotting something against the squirrels or the weather. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub, claim you spoke to its roots.

More woods, forests and old trees in County Donegal · All of County Donegal

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