It is believed that the first church on this site was founded by St Adomnán (c.628-704), Abbot of the monastery at Iona from 679 to 704 and the author of the Life of St Columba.

According to tradition, Adomnán wanted to build his church two miles away at Lisnascreaghog but every time the walls were built, they fell down. Adomnán prayed about the problem but while he was praying, fell asleep. He woke to find an eagle flying away with his prayer book. The eagle dropped the book on this site and so Adomnán built his church here in Glenullin – Gleann an Iolair (the Eagle’s Glen).

There is a circular walk starting here which takes you to the nearby Glenullin woods, site of the Gortnamoyagh inauguration stone – also known as St Adomnán’s stone. The route of the walk is shown on an interpretation board at the church. You can also drive to Glenullin woods.

Inauguration stones were used during ceremonies to establish a ruler’s right to rule over the local area. There is a foot-shaped space imprinted in the stone where the chieftain is said to have placed his foot as a symbol of his commitment to the land. In Glenullin, the footprint is said to have been Adomnán’s, made as he stood to pray.

Footprints like these have been found at sites all over Ireland and Europe including Dunadd in Argyll, Scotland where there is a stone footprint linked to the kings of Dál Riata.

Today the remains of an early church lie in the centre of the graveyard. Outside the boundaries of the graveyard there is a souterrain which is now fenced off and inaccessible. This underground chamber was 15m long and 7m wide and may have been used as a store and also as a hiding place when the area was under attack.