What is recorded here

Penitential cairns in Donegal still stand inside a six-sided field called Garrai an Turas, the pilgrimage field. Three stone heaps hold slabs marked with crosses or angular grooves, while the surrounding pasture leads up the flank of Glencolumbkille. People may have walked that valley, knelt beside rough stone and carried grief out again in breath, step and memory.

A six-sided stone-walled enclosure (DG080-004001-) known as Garrai an Turas (the pilgrimage field). It was probably originally rectangular with a secondary extension to the S. It now measures 19.55m E-W and 16.1m maximum N-S. In the interior are three penitential cairns (DG080-004002-) with associated slabs. (1) a horseshoe-shaped cairn 3.85m × 4.5m, 1.46m in height. Near the centre is a slab (DG080-004003-) 1.3m × 0.35m. On its NW face are two simple crosses. (2) A cairn (DG080-004004-) 4.35m × 3.4m, 1.46m in height. Set on top of this is a slab (DG080-004005-) .65m × 0.25m. On the N face is a geometric design consisting of rectangular grooved divisions along each edge. (3) A cairn (DG080-004007-) 4.9m × 3.6m, 1.2m in height. Set on top of this is an uninscribed slab (DG080-004008-) .95m × 0.38m which might be said to have a vague cross-shaped elevation. The site is located on a ledge on the N flank of Glencolumbkille valley in fair pasture surrounded by rougher land. 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

Penitential cairns, early Christian period. The site is associated with pilgrimage practices and reflects the spiritual landscape of early medieval Ireland.

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