Description
Poisoned Glen, Dunlewey, Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland
Built in 1848 Dunlewey Church is quaintly seated in the picturesque valley of ‘The Poisoned Glen’ at the foot of Errigal Mountain overlooking Dunlewey Lough. You may be wondering how this stunning glen got such an unfitting name? Well, here is the legend…
Ancient legend states that two rival giants pursued each other to this valley thousands of years ago to commence in battle. One giant named Lug Lamhfada slayed the other giant named Balor by striking him between the eyes with a massive stone. Balor fell to the ground, suddenly turning to rock. His blood poured out, poisoning the glen to this very day…. Hence the name Poisoned Glen. If you look at the central mountains in the distant background you may just see the head of ‘The Fallen Giant’ he is laying on his back facing upwards.
The other story I’ve heard on why its named Poisoned Glen was due to a spelling error. Hundreds of years ago the English mistakenly translated the Glen’s true Irish name of ‘Heavenly Glen’ to ‘Poisoned Glen’ who really knows? but I personally prefer the Giant’s legend best 
