Description
Bunglas, Teelin, County Donegal, Ireland
At almost 2000 ft high these magnificent cliffs are amongst the highest sea cliffs in Europe. They stand almost three times higher than the more famous ‘Cliffs of Moher’ in County Clare. Remarkably there are remains of an early Christian monastic site along the slopes and on top of these cliffs.
These remains consist of a stone chapel and some beehive huts. Even older stone tools and remains were uncovered on these cliffs, which suggests that it was a site of ancient worship long before the arrival of Christianity.
I have hiked to the top of this ridge many times before and it always amazes me how these ancient monks managed to carry, build and actually live up there all year round. Especially during the harsh cold and very windy conditions of winter. For food they likely had to scale all the way down to the sea to catch fish and harvest crops etc then climb all the way back up again, all on barefoot on a regular basis. Credit to them all
I guess it was an ideal location for monks to carry out their penance and pilgrimages. However, with a view like this around them on clear calm days I’m sure it was closer to heaven for them and this may have been a main factor on their decision to live so high up into the sky
At almost 2000 ft high these magnificent cliffs are amongst the highest sea cliffs in Europe. They stand almost three times higher than the more famous ‘Cliffs of Moher’ in County Clare. Remarkably there are remains of an early Christian monastic site along the slopes and on top of these cliffs.
These remains consist of a stone chapel and some beehive huts. Even older stone tools and remains were uncovered on these cliffs, which suggests that it was a site of ancient worship long before the arrival of Christianity.
I have hiked to the top of this ridge many times before and it always amazes me how these ancient monks managed to carry, build and actually live up there all year round. Especially during the harsh cold and very windy conditions of winter. For food they likely had to scale all the way down to the sea to catch fish and harvest crops etc then climb all the way back up again, all on barefoot on a regular basis. Credit to them all
I guess it was an ideal location for monks to carry out their penance and pilgrimages. However, with a view like this around them on clear calm days I’m sure it was closer to heaven for them and this may have been a main factor on their decision to live so high up into the sky
