This is the birthplace of Saint Columba, also called Columbcille, in Gartan, Donegal, Ireland. More about St. Columba (Columbcille) is at http://ns2.rsok.com/columcille_and_druids.html. There is a megalithic stone monument that pre-dates Columbcille by thousands of years. People place coins on one of the stones of the megalithic monument. According to a story told by Rev John R.Walsh. PP of the Derry diocese, the stone is where Columbcille slept and now it has miraculous powers to cure lonliness and sorrow. The stone has cups carved into its surface.
A book Kenny, by Leona Dalrymple, The Reilly & Britton Co., Chicago, 1917 which may be read at online http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16040/16040.txt says:
I often think these days of Kenny's wood-fire tales of the shrine of Black Gartan where St. Columba was born. Colomcille, old Kenny called him around the wood-fire, didn't he? Colomcille, Kenny said, having been in exile, knew the homesick pangs himself and therefore could give the good Irishmen who journeyed to his shrine strength to bear them. I'm not in exile but there are times when I should be journeyin' off, as Kenny says when the brogue is on him, to Black Gartan. The curse of the Celt! Kenny swears there's no homesickness in the world like an Irishman's passionate longing for home and kin. Not that I long for the studio. God forbid! Kenny's the symbol for it all.
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