Dunlewey Church is a pretty little 19th-century church at the foot of Errigal mountain. Lost in the middle of nowhere, it boasts exceptional charm and authenticity, sure to delight lovers of stories and legends!
There are many ruined churches in Ireland… but few with the aura and beauty of Dunlewey Church.
Set at the foot of the highest mountain in the Derryveagh mountain range in County Donegal, the church is a timeless, spatial spectacle… worthy of the finest Irish legends.
With not a living soul for miles around, the church, though damaged by time, still stands majestically, and carries an enigmatic charm. Silently overlooking the Posoined Glen, it offers breathtaking views of Donegal’s wide open spaces, moorland and wilderness.
But what is the history of this abandoned church? Why is she here? Where does its distinctive charm come from, a charm that has withstood the ravages of time?
We can tell you: behind the Dunlewey church lies a wonderful love story, as romantic as it is dramatic.
For this church is the living testimony of an eternal love, which binds Jane Smith Russel, and her husband James Russel.
Want to know more? Here we go!
It all began in 1825, when James Russel married Jane Smith. The couple soon moved to London and fell in love. James made his fortune as a hop merchant, and the couple had 5 children.
Bored with life in England, James and Jane decide to move to Ireland with their children. They acquired the Dunlewey estate, an enchanting place famous for its exceptional views, moorland, sheep and mountains.
The estate includes a large residence, outbuildings and nearly 1550 hectares of wilderness.
Life was perfect… but sadly, James Russel died on September 2, 1848, leaving behind a grieving wife and children.
Inconsolable, Jane Russel decides to build a church in tribute to her lost love. For this reason, she spares no expense and demands the very best for this project. It calls on the best builders of the time, as well as the region’s finest materials: white marble, blue quartzite… She intends to build one of the most beautiful churches in Ireland! A church worthy of her love for her husband…
After years of construction, the church was officially inaugurated in 1853. Her husband was laid to rest under the church’s marble floor, and the place became a symbol in Ireland of eternal love.
But it’s not just a mausoleum for James Russel. The church welcomed the faithful every week for religious ceremonies, and became an essential meeting place for the local community of the time. This is where the priest officiates, and where most religious events take place.
But this was without taking into account the great wave of immigration at the time. The area was gradually emptied of its population… and with it the decline of Dunlewey Church.
Due to lack of use, the church is not maintained.
Its roof fell into disrepair, its facilities were transferred to other nearby churches… and the site was eventually abandoned as too dangerous for public use.
As the years went by, the church, though magnificent, fell into oblivion.
Fortunately, work began in 1987 to repair the floor… And in 2005, restoration work was launched to preserve the site’s original beauty. There’s no question of restoring the roof or the stained glass windows of yesteryear: teams are working primarily on its conservation, aware of its architectural and historical treasure.
Since then, the site has become a major tourist attraction. And it’s well worth the detour!
If you love ruins lost in the middle of nature, Dunlewey Church should provide you with an emotionally rich experience. For the church, with its cachet and location at the foot of Mount Errigal, is a veritable concentrate of beauty and authenticity.
Parking is available nearby. The setting is one of majestic simplicity.
The church takes the form of a main tower opening onto a nave pierced by arched windows. Gothic in style, it features a combination of white marble and blue quartzite, two materials known to have been used for the Taj Mahal!
The church has a graveyard (including the estate’s owners, who succeeded Jane Russel) and a small boundary wall.
Roofless, the site has an exceptional aura. This is down to architecture as majestic as it is elegant, but also to a breathtakingly wild environment. And don’t miss the view: the church silently overlooks the Poisoned Glen, with its moorland and lakes… while Mount Errigal rises just a few hundred metres from the church…
Our advice: take a stroll around the area. The Dunlewey church offers a superb playground for budding hikers, and you can enjoy the breathtaking peace and quiet of the area!
Adresse :
GPS :
Tour duration :
Rates : free of charge
Opening hours :
every day
