Ritual site

This is believed to be the early ecclesiastical site of Culmaine (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 377). The site presently consists of a graveyard (DG010-011001-) surrounding a ruined 18th century church. 14m from the SE corner of the church is a flat-surfaced stone, .3m x .52m, on which are two small cupmarks. Traditionally these are known as St. Colmcille's knee-prints (DG010-011002-). It is situated in a band of good land in generally rough pasture sloping NE to the Clonmany river. Beside the church there stood in 1600 a castle (DG010-011004-) (probably a stone house) which was inhabited by a priest called Amerson (Davies and Swan 1939, 198). No visible trace of this structure survives and its exact location is unknown. 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

This site is associated with Saint Culmaine, an early Irish Christian saint linked to several monastic foundations in the north of Ireland. The stone may have marked a holy well or place of pilgrimage, reflecting Culmaine's role in early ecclesiastical traditions.