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The valley of the River Finn is a fertile area, at the base
of the Lagan, comprising some of the richest land in Donegal.
Therefore, it has had a chequered history, for through the
centuries, fertile land brought wealth and plenty.
It is overlooked by a green, pleasant hill called Croghan
Hill, which, in days gone by, was a commanding height for
the lords of the valley.
From hundreds of years B.C. the valley was known as the Plain
of Ithe. Croghan Hill was then known as Croghan Magh Ithe
- the Hill of the plain of Ithe.
Ithe was the uncle of Milesious, the first of the invaders
to come across the sea. Legend tells us that it is Ithe who
is buried in the mound on top of Croghan.
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Legend
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"In the Isle of the Blest, or the Land of the
Dead, there dwelt one, Bregon, who built himself a tower.
One fine evening, in winter, one of his tribe, Ithe,
ascended the tower to look at the view. With the setting
sun at his back, he looked over the sea and seeing the
brim of Ireland, decided to explore it.
He set sail with three and thirty chosen warriors.
Neit, the God of War, had been slain in battle with
the Fomorians. Three Kings of Tuatha de Danann - MacCuill,
MacCecht and MacGrene were on their way to Aileach (in
Inishowen) to decide on their inheritance.
Ithe, coming into the presence of the Kings, was welcomed
by them and asked to be an independent judge, in the
distribution of the property of the dead.
Ithe said - "Act according to the laws of justice,
for the land you live in, is a good one, rich in fruit,
honey, wheat and fish - and in heat and cold, temperate."
The Kings were impressed by his wisdom, but later,
they began to fear his power. They rose up, followed,
and slew him.
His warriors bore him back and showed his wounds to
the children of Mileasia. An expedition set out, led
by Bile, the brother of Ithe - and so the invasion of
Ireland came about.
The body of Ithe was carried back, and buried on the
hill where he had been slain, which, henceforth, bore
his name - Croghan Magh Ithe."
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St. Patrick
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In the 'Triparte Life of St. Patrick'
we are told -
"The man of God, Patrick, determined to
visit the son of King Eoghan, and to announce
to him the faith of Christ. He, therefore, began
his journey, through the Gap that is called
Barnes Mor Tir Aodha, and came to a tract called
Magh Ithe, where he built his church - Donaghmore
- dedicated and consecrated for worship on the
Sunday."
This is believed to have taken place about the
year 450 AD - on the site of the Church of Ireland
- St. Patrick's, Donaghmore,
near the village of Castlefin. We are told that
Patrick, coming over the brow of Croghan Magh
Ithe, met Muireadach, who, with his warrior band,
was on his way to Alba (Scotland), from which
he brought Earch, as his bride, to Ireland. Earch
survived Muireadach, and later married Fergus,
by whom she had four sons, one of which, Felim,
was the father of Colmcille.
Tradition tells that Patrick, crossing the Deale,
below Murlog, was held up, several times by the
breaking of his chariot wheels. Turning to his
followers, he said -
"Be not amazed at these things. For this
stream thither, needs not that I should bless
it, for a boy shall be born there, - his name
shall be Colmcille."
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