1.2 Cross Pillar

Cross Pillar, Glencolmcille, Donegal, Ireland.

2. Cross Pillar

This cross is almost 2 metres tall and is decorated with carved designs on both sides. It is a Christian monument probably made around 700-800AD.

The east-facing side is decorated with rectilinear panels, each one with a rectangular boss in the centre. The west side has four patterns on it.

At this stop, pilgrims circle the cross as they pray.

This used to be the most westerly point of the turas. Today pilgrims carry on further west and climb the hill to Colmcille’s Well.

Traditionally everyone in Gleann Cholm Cille followed the turas every year. On the 9th of June, the saint’s feast day, hundreds of people could be seen circling the glen.

1.1 Straid Court Tomb

This is the ruined remains of a burial tomb dating from about 3,000BC. It was made and used by farmers who lived in Gleann Cholm Cille. It is pre-Christian but has been incorporated into the Turas Cholmcille pilgrimage trail around the glen.
1.2 Cross Pillar

This cross is almost 2 meters tall and is decorated with carved designs on both sides. It is a Christian monument probably made around 700-800AD.
1.3 Garvecross Cairn

Áit na nGlún - The Place of the Knees - is a cairn. To the side there is a flat stone slab with a round stone on top. After circling the cairn, pilgrims pass this smaller stone around their bodies as they pray.
1.4 Cross Pillar, Beefan

Mullach na Croise - Height of the Cross - is a stone pillar carved with the feint outline of a cross. It stands in the centre of a cairn. The cairn and cross are found within the remains of a circular enclosure.
1.5 Colmcille's Chapel, Beefan

According to local tradition, this is the site of Colmcille’s chapel in Gleann Cholm Cille where the saint prayed and worked on illuminated manuscripts. There are also three stone slabs with Christian carvings.
1.6 Colmcille’s Chair

Legend has it that this is where Colmcille sat to rest, looking down at the valley below him. Some claim that a wish made here will come true.
1.7 Colmcille’s Well

Tobar Colm Cille - Colmcille’s Well - is surrounded by a large stone cairn.
1.8 Colmcille’s Garden

Garraí an Turais - the turas field - is also known as Colmcille’s Garden. The area contains a set of three upright stones, two of which are carved with a simple cross. Each stone is surrounded by a cairn and all are enclosed by a stone wall.
1.9 Cloch an Aonaigh

The Stone of the Gathering - Cloch na Aonaigh - is nearly 2 meters tall and faces pilgrims as they arrive across the valley floor. The stone is carved on both sides with circular and linear patterns.
1.10 An Fhothair

This turas station is a cairn with an upright stone slab standing at its centre. The cairn lies in the middle of field. The stone faces east/west and there are views down to the Church of Ireland church.
1.11 An Droim Rua

Turas station 11 is an upright stone in a cairn. The stations at this point of the turas are near each other on either side of the road. It may be that the current road follows the line of an ancient pilgrimage route.
1.12 Baile na nDeamhan

This stone is decorated on both sides with interlocking patterns. The Baile na nDeamhan - village of the demons - is where Colmcille is said to have been attacked by demons.
1.13 An Gaineamh

This stone stands right beside the road. The original was damaged and a fibreglass replica made from the original pieces. It is carved only on one side and faces east/west.
1.14 An Caiseal

This is a tall pillar carved with two circular patterns. Like many of the Christian cross slabs in Gleann Cholm Cille, this may date from the late 7th to 9th century.
1.15 An tSráid

This cross slab is now in two parts with the upper part sitting on the ground to the left of the lower part. It is carved with three complex patterns, linked by a vertical line.