Portkill

At Portkill, on a small beach below the road there stands a wooden cross and a standing stone, inscribed with a cross. A holy well with a stone cross above it, is located close by but is overgrown with vegetation.

Locally, it is said that the bay was the last stop made by St. Colmcille on his way to the Scottish island of Iona in 563 A.D. Legend states that when St.Colmcille left Derry, he came ashore and climbed to the top of the hill above to have one last look at his beloved homeland. He is reported to have said as he cast his eyes around Lough Foyle, that no one who lived in the area as far as he could see would ever be struck by lightening.

An annual pilgrimage is made to Portkill on the 15th August by the local community. It should be noted that while it is possible to descend the hill to the beach, it is not safe to do so. A recent bronze plaque has been erected on the roadside above the beach. It's inscription reads as follows:

At Portkill below are the remains of an early ecclesiastical site dedicated to Colmcille, containing a holy well called Colmcille's Well and a cross-inscribed pillar stone dating possible from the eighth century. An annual pilgrimage or turas is made here on the 15th August. According to local tradition, Colmcille, while sailing into exile in Scotland, longed to see Derry, he returned to the shore, where he blessed the well and cut out the cross on the stone with his finger. He entered his boat never to set foot in Ireland again.

Portkill is from Irish port Cille, a short form of Port Cholm Cille signifying 'Colmcille's port'

Do-ell Érinn, indell cor,
cechaing noib nemed mbled
'He turned away from Ireland, he entered a pact,
he crossed in ships the sanctuary of the whales'

Poem in praise of Colmcille de Beccán mac Luigdech
(seventh century)

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