The present village of Culdaff was once a monastery founded by St. Buadan.
The Church of Ireland in the village was built where the monastic church would have stood and the graveyard once reached across the village under the road to the little enclosure known as Ardmore Graveyard.
Culdaff River (the same river that flows past Carrowmore) was apparently used by monks as a starting point for the missionary work to the Isles of Scotland.
They would have sailed through the estuary and past the beach on their perilous journeys. A holy well (turas) dedicated to St. Buadan existed until recently and carved steps still remain at the river bank.
But on the other side of the bridge on the Bunagee Road, a curious curragh shaped rock lies in the river. This free standing rock, called St. Buadan’s Boat, was the means of conveyance used by Buadan after being expelled from Iona (in Scotland).
The rock upon which he stood, so the legend goes, fell into the water and miraculously floated transporting him safely back to Culdaff. Only the cynic would doubt the finger holes in the rock!
It is difficult to imagine what sounds were heard by Buadan and his followers, but we have remaining an intriguing artefact known as St. Buadan’s Bell. Dating to the 9th century, this cast bronze bell, about 25cm high, would have been used ceremoniously and would have sounded unique in the era, devoid of the plethora of artificial sounds of today.
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