Buadan and Culdaff
By Vera McFadden

Near Culdaff there are prehistoric monuments, the Temple of Deen and Bocan stone circle. On the side of the village, out past Bunagee Pier, there is an ancient promontory fort called Dun Eoghain (Owen's Fort). In the village itself there is a circular graveyard called Ardmore.

Several years ago when we were on a pilgrimage in Inishowen, we visited the presbytery near Culdaff and the parish priest showed us Saint Buadan's Bell. It was a dark coloured bronze bell which was made in one piece and it is eleven inches high. Dating to the ninth or tenth century, it is of the same type as the ancient Saint Patrick's bell. There is a small hole pierced on each of its sides. It was a wonderful experience to see this old artifact and to know that it is still being cared for in its own area - an unusual fact as treasures from this period have been looted by the Vikings, hidden or lost, or found their way to museums or private collections.

Saint Buadan's Turas

There is a great variety about the different turas sites in Donegal, and perhaps one of the most unusual is the turas to Saint Buadan's well at Culdaff. Three of us set off from Moville. When we arrived to find out about this pilgrimage, the local historian was missing - he was away on his honeymoon.

However, it wasn't too hard to find. A short walk through the village brought us to Lafferty's shop and the lady there kindly showed us where the three steps to the "well" had once been. There is a tank built there now.

We were told that, even though the turas had stopped, one lady often came to pray at the side of the bridge, looking towards the "well" doing her turas. The approach to the well can be seen from the bridge, though the tank has now been built there and the rest of the bank is steep. When we looked over the other side of the bridge, we saw Saint Buadan's Boat lying on the river bed. This is a stone which is shaped like a boat. Legend says it has the marks of Buadan's five fingers, and that he sailed from Scotland on it. It seems that Columba and Buadan once went to Scotland and the people chased them. Columba got away in the boat, but poor Buadan was left standing on the rock, and, as you can imagine, he wasn't feeling too good with those fierce Scots coming after him. "Have faith", Columba called, and Baudan did and the rock broke off and floated across the sea and took him safely to Culdaff. The steps where he landed were near the bridge, so the old lady who prayed there was close to Baudan.

Baudan

Baudan, the patron of Culdaff, was a missionary to Scotland, in the Fanad area, he is called Davideog. So he is remembered in Scotland, Culdaff, Fanad and Killavee. He must have blessed the little spring which is now called "Buadan's Well and is just at the side of the river. Traditionally, he blessed Bunagee port. Because of this, new boats were once brought from other places to be launched at Bunagee.

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