Local Folklore & Places Collection

  An unusual ancient monument, but not unique as other inauguration stones exist throughout Ireland, this one is known as The Saint's Track (after Saint Adamnan), Shane's Leap, or the Giant's footsteps.

It consists of two footprints (roughly size 8-  there ye go lads, Cinderella you've had your day) and some small circular hollows forming a cruciform shape carved in a basalt outcrop. Like any other inauguration stone, this was used during inauguration ceremonies.

Up until the 16th century it is believed the local chieftain or Gaelic ruler stood in the footprints with his spear resting in one of the circular hollows as part of his inauguration ceremony, symbolising his right to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers.

It is most likely that the stone dates from the Irish Iron age and like many Irish sites and mythology was later given Christian significance, as indicated by an additional local legend which has it that the footprints were caused by the saint Adamnan when he stood on the stone to pray, proceeded to fall asleep, as you do, and a cheeky eagle swooped down and stole his prayer book. As saints go, Adamnan's claim to fame comes from his biographing Saint Colmcille's life, which mostly consisted of opening a few monasteries here and there, and a lot of trekking about Ireland on a mission to convert all the filthy pagans.

A further version of the tale found in the Ordnance Survey describes it as being locally called the Giant's Foot steps and was locally said that the giant leaped from the above rock to the old church of Errigal. (James Johnston 19th November 1835)

When standing on this monument it is easy to see why this site was chosen- the new chief standing on this rock overlooking his people, facing the rising sun, in the footsteps of all his predecessors.

If stones could speak, what tales they could tell... 

 Also known as Slaghtaverty Dolmen, and The Giant's Grave. The tale of Abhartach is an early Irish Legend, which was first collected in Patrick Weston Joyce's The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places (1875). Abhartach should not be confused with the similarly named Abartach, a figure associated with Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

"There is a place in the parish of Errigal in Derry, called Slaghtaverty, Glenullin, but it ought to have been called Laghtaverty, the laght or sepulchre monument of the abhartach (avartagh) or dwarf. This dwarf was a magician, and a dreadful tyrant, and after having perpetrated great cruelties on the people he was at last vanquished and slain by a neighbouring cheiftain. He was buried in a standing posture, but the very next day he appeared in his old haunts, more cruel and vigorous than ever. And the chief slew him a second time and buried him as before, but again he escaped from the grave and spread terror through the whole country. The chief then consulted a druid, and according to his directions, he slew the dwarf a third time, and buried him in the same place, with his head downwards; which subdued his magical power, so that he never again appeared on earth. The laght raised over the dwarf is still there, and you may hear the legend with much detail from the natives of the place, one of whom told it to me."

- Joyce, The Origin and History of Irish Names and Places (1875)

In some modern versions of the story Abhartach rises from his grave to drink the blood of his subjects, while the cheiftain who slays the revenant is named as Cathain. The hero variously consults an early Christian saint instead of a druid, and is told that Abhartach is one of the neamh-mairbh (walking dead), and that he can only be restrained by killing him with a sword made of yew wood, burying him upside down, surrounding his grave with thorns, and placing a large stone on top of the grave.

You can see how the latter version, like much of the Irish oral tradition, and pagan folklore and mythology, has been Christianised; the druid taking the form of a saint.