Disert Early Church Enclosure

In pasture, in SE foothills of Bluestack Mountains, located on a SE-facing slope on the W bank of the Eany Beg River. This enclosure is not shown on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. The outline of a large oval enclosure (c. 84m NE−SW; c. 62m NW−SE) was revealed in contour mapping and 3-D digital surface modelling, undertaken in 2016 as part of a conservation management project (Beglane et al. 2016, 26-32). The results show an enclosing element, such as a leveled bank or wall, in a continuous curve S-N-SE; it peters out at SE−S, an area which coincides with steeply-sloping, wet, boggy ground. Aerial images and geophysical data also hint at the presence of an internal fosse. On the ground, only the NW−N arc of the enclosure can be traced, outlined by large stones and remnants of an earthen bank. Although no trace of a church (DG084-001013-) survives, a number of other monuments are evident within this ecclesiastical enclosure: In the S half, is an oval enclosure (DG084-001011-), the W half of which encompasses a graveyard (DG084-001002-), an altar (DG084-001008-) and three penitential cairns (DG084-001005-; DG084-0010006-; DG084-001007-); in the N half, there is holy well (DG084-084004-) with two penitential cairns (DG084-001009-; DG084-0010010-). A small enclosure (DG084-001012-) abuts the E side of the ecclesiastical enclosure. Further results from the geophysical survey (earth resistance data) revealed a series of complex subsurface anomalies including: a square feature (c. 6.5 x 6.5m) in the NW quadrant of the ecclesiastical enclosure; a possible ditch curving E−SW to S of the ecclesiastical enclosure, with its E end terminating at a clearly defined area of very wet soil to SE of the holy well, possibly indicative of deliberate drainage/water management, or even a mill; and two enclosure-like features (diam. c. 28m and 17m, respectively) one in the S half of the enclosure, and one immediately outside it at S (Beglane et al. 2016, 31-32; 38-40). The placename ‘Disert’, usually translated as ‘hermitage’, suggests an ecclesiastical/monastic settlement (Flanagan and Flanagan (1994, 69), but there is scant historical information on this site. In local tradition, the site has an association with St. Columcille, who is said to have blessed all the land he could see through the hole in a quern stone, which is located on the altar (DG084-001008-). Maguire (1920, 500) refers to the foundation of a Franciscan monastery at Disert in 1460, but there is no corroboration for this. Niall O’Boyle, bishop of Raphoe in the late 1500’s/early 1600’s, died in Disert on 6th February 1610, but his body was taken to Kiltoorish for burial. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of revised upload: 8 August 2017