What is recorded here

Kilcolumcille Cairn stands in the centre of the Glencolumbkille valley floor, a circular stone heap with a broken cross slab set upright beside it. The surviving fragment carries a quartered circle and Greek cross, its lines cut deep enough to catch shadow at sunset. People may have gathered there to mark loss, honour a teacher or simply orient themselves in open pasture. The stones remain clear while human memory blunts, which is why the place still feels like an unfinished sentence.

A roughly circular cairn (DG080-014001-) 2.3m in diameter and 0.75m high. Situated upright on top of this is a cross-inscribed slab (DG080-014002-). This has been broken in two and the upper part now stands upright beside the cairn base. Of the part in situ, the decoration is on the E face. The reconstructed slab is 1.98m × 0.52m × 0.09m. The inscription consists of a quartered circle with a central Greek cross. The centre line of the cross continues below the circle expanding into a circular groove with outside band. The cairn is located by the roadside in the centre of Glencolumbkille valley floor in fair pasture 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

Early Christian cairn and cross-inscribed slab, likely 7th–9th century AD. The site is significant as a rare surviving example of a Christian monument in a cairn, indicating possible ecclesiastical or memorial use.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.