St. Machar's Church or Chapel of Doon or Gorman's Church
'The Wee House of Malin' (Early Christian and later)

Ballygorman in the Parish of Malin on north coast, 1 mile east of Portmore Pier. Signpost on road down to beach to "The Wee House of Malin'. On raised beach close to sea, below cliff. Arable nearby. View restricted except seawards.

The church: Of the ruins still standing are the east gable, north and south walls nearly to roof level and a low portion of the north end of the west gable to where, presumably, the door had been. There are courses of very large stones in the structure such as are often found in early churches; some plaster remains on the interior of the walls. The altar appears to have stretched the full width of the church (12ft. ?). The east window is splayed as is one in the south wall near the east gable. There is a box like recess within the wall on the west side of this south window, the opening to which, apparently, was only in the splay and not in the wall surface itself.

It is said that the stones for this church came from Downhill (at the mouth of Lough Foyle and on the north coast of Co. Londonderry).

Carved Head at Church: In 1944 a carved head (in hand dark limestone?) was to be seen built into the outside corner of the east gable where it met the top of the south wall. For some years now (1970) it has been propped up on a low broken part of the south wall between south window and the east gable. The eyes, nose and mouth are incised in the smooth, flat surface, which is cut back to outline cheeks and chin. A second head has been reported, but I failed to find it, although there is a similar stone, with an apparent sign of carving, in a corresponding position on the north east corner of the east gable.

"The Wee House of Malin": This is a small rounded cave in the cliff face south west of, and a few yards above, the church. The opening facing the sea is built up to about 2ft. 6ins. high with rough stone seats all around the interior, and is said to hold a limitless number of people. It is believed by some to have been St. Machar's dwelling, others say St. Muirdhealach (Moliallagh) is the saint associated with this site. St. Marue is also connected with this area. The graveyard is thought to have been below the cave and round the church. A road comes down a steep hill to the shore at this point and on it, a short distance up, is a hamlet called Drumnakill (the ridge of the church?) and is marked on the map. Some families in the neighbourhood are called Gorman. (Ballygorman)

The whole area along the shore (some of it flat on a raised beach), the cave, the church, and the holy well all seemed to have been associated with the ancient Malin Fair. Forts guard the shore to west and east.
Later note: I had reported the unprotected position of the carved head, and now in 1973 learn that it has been taken for safety to the National Museum, Dublin.

Doon Promontory Fort (Iron Age or later)
At the shore edge below St. Machar's Church and 'The Wee House of Malin'. This 30ft, high rocky peninsula juts out into the sea. There are very slight remains of a fort. A natural tunnel goes right through the rock on the land side, the east entrance being cut off by the incoming tide.
Local tradition: A smooth water-worn rock in the middle of the tunnel is said to be the saint's chair, while above it the red coloured rock of the roof is credited as being a bloodstain made as a saint was murdered where he sat.

Malin Well or St. Moriallagh's Well (Early Christian)
On north coast near 'The Wee House of Malin' and associated sites. This much venerated well appears to be covered by every tide. It is in a circular cavity in the rock, the bottom being covered with coloured stones, the semi-precious 'Malin Pebbles'. A pattern called Malin Well Fair, is held here on 15th August.

Dungolgan Promontory Fort (Iron Age or later)
On north coast, the most easterly of the sites close to 'The Wee House of Malin' guards east end of bay while Doon Promontory Fort guards the west the other sites lying between. This precipitous peninsula rises to about 150ft and the fort is very difficult to reach; some earth banks still remain.

Doherty's Dun (Iron Age or later)
On north coast about 1 mile east of 'The Wee House of Malin', a track from Drumnakill leads almost to it. This is one of the many promontory forts, and access is somewhat difficult; there are some earth banks remaining.

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