What is recorded here
Penitential stone rings the road outside Glencolumbkille, where weary walkers may have paused to breathe before continuing the turas. The cairn stands barely a metre high, small enough to touch yet old enough to make human life feel brief. Its upright kerb marks a boundary between the ordinary journey and the inner work of suffering, inviting passersby to remember that roads lead somewhere even when the destination is invisble.
Situated on N side of public road opposite cross-slab (DG080-017001-) which is 15m to the S, on the outskirts of the village of Glencolumbkille. This penitential cairn is part of the turas of Glencolumbkille. The monument consists of a circular cairn (diam. 2.7m; H 1m) with upright orthostats froming the kerb around the base of the cairn.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: : 19 July 2010
Penitential cairn; early Christian period. Part of a pilgrimage route associated with Saint Columba, reflecting the spiritual and devotional practices of medieval Ireland.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Glencolumbkille TurasArchaeological place · 7 yd
An Droim Rua Carved Cross-Slab PlaceEnclosure · 17 yd
IndicatedChurch · 260 yd
Teachín Tessiehouse · 524 yd
Glencolmcille Old GraveyardGraveyard · 773 yd
Trá an GhleannaBeach / strand · 1724 yd
An Trá Bheag (Trá Bheag an Ghleanna)Beach / strand · 1.3 mi
CroaghstraleelMountain / peak · 3.8 mi
Slieve LeagueMountain / peak · 4.1 mi