What is recorded here

St Columkille's Pilgrim Cairn in County Donegal is an oval mound of small and medium stones reaching four metres high, built beside a well at the base of a steep cliff. Pilgrims added stones across centuries, creating a living boundary where human devotion met the raw edge of the land. The cliff looms above like a forgotten god, watching every hand that touches the rocks.

'St. Columkille's well (DG009-006002-), modernised and surrounded by a cairn (DG009-006001-) of stones left by pilgrims (Ó Muirgheasa No. 70). It is situated to the E of a base of a steep cliff.' (Lacy. 1983, 302). Upon inspection in 2011 it was recorded that the oval shaped cairn (dims. c.12m N-S; c.8m E-W) extends back in a N direction from the well. It is composed of small and medium stones rises to a max. height of c.4m at the NW end. It is likely that the original cairn material was augmented by spoil from clearance works undertaken c.2010. Pale, brown and white chippings now surround the cairn and appear to have been placed on terram after an area was cleared. A clear cut edge is visible on the NW side. A semi-circular structure of uncertain function (DG009-006003-) was identified at N. 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 Lacy 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). This entry has been revised and updated. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and Patrick O'Donovan Date of upload: 24 November 2011.

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