Saints and Stones: Glencolmcille
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The name Glencolmcille translates as the "Valley of St. Colmcille." Legend has it that St. Colmcille (Columba) and his followers lived in the valley.

Between 4000 and 3000 B.C., farming people settled in the area, and excellent megalithic examples of their court cairns, portal dolmen, and ringforts abound. Most of the pre-Christian standing stones in the area were cross-inscribed during the Christian era. The village of Glencolmcille and the surrounding area is famous for the Turas, a pilgrimage to the stations (places on a route used for prayer and devotion) that occurs on June 9, the feast day of St. Colmcille. The stations consist of megalithic tombs, natural landscape features, and cross pillars.

The town is well-known today as the home of Oideas Gael, an Irish language learning institute established in 1984 to promote the Irish language and culture.

About Glencolmcille

Irish Antiquities: Glencolmcille
Gleann Cholm Cille: Archeaology
Wikipedia: Glencolmcille

Journey to Glencolmcille

Glencolmcille is located on the R263 off of the N56 in the far southwest of County Donegal, Ireland.

Map Reference: G5284

Visitors Information

Visitors information for Glencolmcille may be found at the geograph.ie website. General information for the area may be found at the Gleann Cholm Cille website.

Additional Photos of Glencolmcille

Turas Sign, Glencolmcille
St. Columba's Church, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 1: Remains of Neolithic Megalithic Tomb, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 1 Close-Up, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 2 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 2: East Face of Cross-Pillar, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 2: West Face of Cross-Pillar, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 4, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 4 Close-Up, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 5 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 5: Colmcille's Chapel, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 5: Entrance to Colmcille's Chapel, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 5: Colmcille's Bed Inside Colmcille's Chapel, Glencolmcille
One of Three Cairns Associated with Turas Station 5, Glencolmcille
One of Three Cairns Associated with Turas Station 5, Glencolmcille
One of Three Cairns Associated with Turas Station 5, Glencolmcille
Road Signs, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 6: Colmcille's Chair, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 7 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 7: Colmcille's Well in Side of Long Rectangular Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 7 Close-Up, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 7: Close-Up of Entrance to Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 7: Cross on Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 9 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 9: A Holed Cross-Pillar on a Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 9 Close-Up, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 9 Close-Up of Remnant of Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 10: Cross Stone on Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 11 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 11: Cross Pillar on a Cairn, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 12: Cross Pillar in a Circular Enclosure, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 12 Opposite Side, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 13 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 13: Pillar Stone, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 13 Close-Up, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 15 Sign, Glencolmcille
Turas Station 15: Broken Pillar Stone, Glencolmcille
Ancient Gravestones in St. Columba's Church Yard, Glencolmcille

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