Cross-slab in Bíofán

Internal Diam 18.3m. (1) A subcircular stone-walled area (DG080-003001-) enclosing a number of other features. Stretches of wall-facing are visible both internally and externally and show the original wall width to have been c. 1.4m. There is a gap of 2.3m to the S. At the E there is a slight semicircular kink in the wall which appears to be an original feature. (2) Inside the enclosure are the ruins of St. Columbkille's Chapel (DG080-003002-). This is 5.75m NNE-SSW and 3.4m ESE-WNW internally. The walls are .75m thick. They are constructed of mortared slab-stones with ashlar quoins which survive particularly on the NE corner. The door is centrally located in the E wall and a number of cut stones are rebuilt into the wall in its vicinity. In the NE corner of the church is St. Columbkille's Bed i.e. two horizontal slabs bounded on the S by three side stones. Above the 'Bed' in the E wall of the church is an alcove, .35m × 0.2m and 0.35m deep. This alcove is associated with the turas of Columbkille. (3) A cairn (DG080-003003-) 4.3m × 2.9m and 0.85m in height abuts the inside of the enclosure at the SE. Situated on top of this is a cross-slab (DG080-003005-) .72m high and 0.29m wide at the arms. There is a slight trace of a geometric design on the W face between the arms but it is very difficult to decipher. A second cross-slab (DG080-003010-) rests on top of the cairn .57m × 0.11m. A cross is inscribed on one face together with some other possible motifs. (4) Another cairn (DG080-003004-) 3.4m × 2.9m and 1.13m in height stands inside the enclosure to the NE. On top of this is a cross-inscribed slab (DG080-003008-), .78m × 0.37m. A simple cross is incised on its W face. (5) Another cairn (DG080-003008) 3.9m × 3.2m and 1.2m in height to the S has no cross slab. (6) Abutting the outer edge of the enclosure at the ESE is a mound (DG080-003007-) of earth and stone c. 5.8m × 4.8m and 0.35m high. On top of this is a natural erratic 2.4m × 1m maximum width. On the stone (DG080-003009-) is inscribed a plain cross inside a circle with the shafts projecting just beyond the circumference to finish in T-bars. The stone is called Leac Na mBonn (flagstone of the footsoles). The site is located on a knoll on the N side of Glencolumbkille valley in fair pasture. 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