Drumnafinnila: Church, Ringfort and Pilgrimage History

St Hugh’s Church, the ringfort on a drumlin hill and local pilgrimage traditions give Drumnafinnila three distinct historical perspectives: architecture, archaeological form and religious memory. If you are planning a trip to Drumnafinnila, these highlights can help you choose the cultural focus of your stay.

St Hugh’s Church: Design and Building Tradition

St Hugh’s Church in Drumnafinnila features decorative cut-stone work and stained-glass windows, which are considered expressions of architectural and artistic design. These features draw attention to different aspects of the building: the shaping of the stone and the use of colour in the windows. This means the church can be appreciated not only through its history, but also through its architectural and artistic details. If you are interested in ecclesiastical architecture, these specific features offer a useful way in.

A local tradition says that after the Penal Days, a small thatched church was built in the townland of Druminafinnla. Another local oral tradition says that the present church was built in 1842; the men of the parish carried sand, lime and stones there in baskets on their backs. The accounts place different emphasis on the past: one recalls a small thatched church, while the other, as an oral tradition, recounts the construction of the present church in 1842 and the transport of its materials.

The Ringfort on the Drumlin

The fort of Drumnafinnila is a ringfort on the summit of a drumlin hill. It measures approximately 36 metres from north to south and 33 metres from east to west. A defensive ditch runs outside the rampart, with a top width of between 5.3 and 5.8 metres. These figures describe different parts of the site: the two measurements refer to the fort, while the width refers to the outer ditch. Together, they give a more specific impression of its described form than the term ringfort alone.

Pilgrim Route and St Brigid's Well

An old pilgrim route starts at the entrance to St Hugh’s Church in Drumnafinnila, Ballinagleragh, County Leitrim, and follows an old country road to St Brigid's Well. A local tradition at the well in the townland of Greaghnafarna says that St Brigid left a knee print on the stone. According to the tradition, people with toothache visited the spring seeking a cure and said three Hail Marys there. The route and the story of the well therefore represent two different aspects of its connection with pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage event to St Brigid's Well was listed for 22 August 2026. The meeting point was given as the car park beside St Hugh’s Church; the event included a 2-kilometre return walk to the well in the townland of Greaghnafarna.

More Destinations in County Leitrim

County Leitrim also offers distinctive cultural and landscape highlights. Parke’s Castle on the northern shore of Lough Gill is a restored early 17th-century castle. The Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre features an exhibition about Seán MacDiarmada, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation, with audiovisual facilities and interpretive panels. In Carrick-on-Shannon, the St George’s Heritage & Visitor Centre brings together the history of St George’s Church and the workhouse. These destinations offer different perspectives from Drumnafinnila’s architectural and pilgrimage history.

There are also different options for enjoying the landscape and getting active. The 15-metre-high Glencar Waterfall is near Glencar Lake, 11 kilometres west of Manorhamilton in County Leitrim, and inspired William Butler Yeats. The waterfall can be viewed from a wooded walking path. Hag’s Leap is a 330-metre-high, freestanding natural rock tower in the Dartry Mountains in the north of County Leitrim, and the highest freestanding natural rock tower on the island of Ireland. It is solely a viewpoint; there is no access for walking or hiking in this area.

The route distances also differ considerably: the first section of the Shannon Blueway includes 16.5 kilometres of waterways and looped walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way runs for 56 kilometres from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village; it usually takes two to three days. County Leitrim therefore offers different scales of activity: waterways and looped routes on the one hand, and a long-distance trail usually covered over several days on the other.

Discover more destinations: Mohill, Keshcarrigan, Drumreagh, Kinlough, Fenagh, Rossinver, Drumod, Carrigallen

For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.