30/10/2023
St Donnal’s Isle, Loch Doon.
St Donnal was a Gaelic priest who tried to introduce Christianity to Scotland in the 7th century.
He was likely born in Ireland and died in A.D. 617. when he was martyred on the Isle of Eigg. St Donnal was in dispute with a local landowner who wanted him, and his followers removed from the land he had claimed. The robbers, who came from the sea, were hired to do this in any manner necessary. The raiders arrived whilst he was saying Mass. They allowed him to finish saying Mass before beheading him and his 52 followers there at the time. One of the many places he and many of his followers are rumoured to be buried is in Kildonan on Arran.
There are many places associated with St. Donnal in Scotland and in some places the name has been changed over the years to be Donald. One of these is Donald’s Isle in Loch Doon. He, or some of his followers lived there for some time. He is thought to have landed in South West Scotland to begin his ministry. He was alive at the same time as St. Columba, but they were not friends. Both had their own followers.
With the proposed building of a dam and the raising of the water level1930 – 1935 saw some archaeological investigation.
On the west side of Loch Doon about two miles north of the castle is a small island. At the time of the excavation in the island measured about approximate 173 meters (570 feet), north to south and approximate 173 metres (285 feet) across. The island is now submerged but at its highest point were two structures called Monks Graves. The structures had walls built of stone and were slightly hollow inside. There were no signs of domestic use in these stone buildings. It is thought to be unlikely that they were graves but there might have been monks’ graves nearby. They may have been monks’ cells or hermitages. As was usual at the time, structures were built on islands for storage of their valuables and for safety. When the water was low, a causeway would have been visible
On the island at one time, in addition to the two stone structures, were signs of several other buildings constructed from wood with turf roofs. These would have housed the priest and followers. There were areas outside the entrance that had traces of charcoal and peat ash. There are no indications of when these fires were in use Scattered about under some layers of debris, at the supposed entrance, were shards of mediaeval pottery and under them were some flints.
The only treasure found was deposited many years later in the form of a silver penny minted in London in 1260. It is thought that the buildings were already in ruins at this time, so the buildings were used for shelter through the ages.
When the dam was constructed, the water level was raised, and water has eroded what was on the island. All that is left is some piles of stones with no definite outline.
