These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
Gleann Cholm Cille· Irish · main form
Glencolumbkille· English · main form
Place & story
People & connections
James McDyer’s local projects
James McDyer arrived in Glencolmcille in December 1951 after serving on Tory Island. His response to emigration and limited employment included a community centre built by voluntary labour in 1953. The Folk Village followed in 1967, presenting earlier ways of life while creating a visitor attraction and support for local crafts. These were practical community-development projects, with the museum preserving the area's history as part of an effort to strengthen its future.[2]
A holiday village recorded in 1975
An RTÉ programme broadcast in April 1975 documented twenty holiday cottages overlooking Glen Bay. McDyer described tourism alongside cooperative activity in farming and textiles as a means of regeneration. The report distinguished the holiday clachan from the nearby Folk Village Museum, whose craft shop sold local work. Its contemporary view records tourism becoming part of the local economy, while retaining the distinction between museum reconstructions and accommodation built for visitors.[3]
Folklore & tradition
The Turas on Colmcille’s feast day
Turas Cholm Cille is practised annually on 9 June, Colmcille's feast day. The National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage records fifteen stations incorporating cross-slabs, stone crosses, a holy well, a church site and megalithic tombs. Pilgrims recite prayers and traditionally circle each station three times, barefoot. Oideas Gael helps transmit the practice through maps, marked stations and public information. The route is a living religious custom across the wider valley, rather than proof that every monument on it originated in the Christian period.[4]
Gleann Cholm Cille — Census 2016 settlement footprint
Population within 2016 settlement boundaries
225people · 2022
Both counts use the 2016 settlement boundary, allowing like-for-like comparison. CSO supplies the 2022 count on this older boundary for comparison only. The official 2022 Built Up Area has different boundaries.
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Gleann Cholm Cille — Census 2016 settlement footprint — census population
Gleann Cholm Cille, Donegal — Census town, CSO 2006 report
2002–2006: census town
238people · 2006
These are the historical areas published in the 2006 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Gleann Cholm Cille, Donegal — Census town, CSO 2006 report — census population
Gleann Cholm Cille, Donegal — Census town, CSO 1996 report
1991–1996: census town
236people · 1996
These are the historical areas published in the 1996 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Gleann Cholm Cille, Donegal — Census town, CSO 1996 report — census population
Glencolumbkille, Donegal — Census town, CSO 1986 report
1981–1986: census town
237people · 1986
Figures cover the historical town area printed in the 1986 report. Boundaries may have changed between censuses. Legal town, environs and suburb totals remain separate and differ from modern settlement boundaries.
View population figures
Glencolumbkille, Donegal — Census town, CSO 1986 report — census population
These figures use different area definitions. Read the boundary note before comparing them.
Gleann Cholm Cille, Donegal
Published census settlement populations
217people · 2016
Settlement boundaries changed during this period. Differences may reflect boundary changes as well as population change. Where a 2011 legal-town-and-environs count is shown, it has not been recalculated onto the 2016 settlement boundary.
placenames