GLENCOLLUMBKILLE, a parish, in the barony of
BANNAGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER,
11½ miles (N. W. by W.) from Killybegs; containing
3752 inhabitants. This parish, which is on the northwest
coast, includes within its limits Tellen head and
Malin bay, and, according to the Ordnance survey,
comprises 32,243¾ statute acres, of which 329 are water,
and 6i¾ are in Rathlin O'Birne islands, belonging to
Kilbarron parish. Agriculture is backward; the waste
land consists of large tracts of sand, bog, and mountain,
among the last of which are Malin Beg, rising 1415,
Glenlough 1513, and Slieve league 1964, feet above the
level of the sea. Four fairs are held at Carrick annually.
The living is a consolidated rectory and vicarage, in the
diocese of Raphoe, and in the patronage of the Bishop:
the tithes amount to £115. The glebe-house was
erected by a gift of £369. 4., and a loan of the same
amount from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1828.
The glebe comprises 40 acres, of which 15 are cultivated
land, and the remainder bog, rock, and pasture. The
church is a plain building, erected by aid of a gift of
£553. 16. from the late Board, in 1828. The R. C.
parish is co-extensive with that of the Established
Church, and contains two chapels. About 220 children
are educated in three public schools, of which the
parochial school is aided by an endowment from Col.
Robertson's fund. On the summit of Slieve league
are the remains of a religious house: here are also some
ruins of a castle. On the site of the present church
formerly stood a monastery, of which scarcely a vestige
is left, except a subterraneous passage, which was discovered
a few years since on digging a grave. A ruin
is pointed out as having been the residence of St.
Columb, and a cavity in an adjoining rock is called his
bed. There is a well, dedicated to St. Columb, at which
a patron is held, with twelve ancient stone crosses,
placed a quarter of a mile apart, as preparatory stations
to visiting the well. There is a remarkable echo in
the mountains.