Termon
| Termon Irish: An Tearmann | |
| County Donegal | |
|---|---|
 Termon and its church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | C166178 |
| Location: | 55°1’47"N, 7°46’43"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Dáil constituency: |
Donegal |
Termon is a village and townland in the north of County Donegal. Its name is from the Irish An Tearmann, meaning 'The place of sanctuary'. The village is eight miles from Letterkenny, Donegal's main town, and seven miles from Creeslough.
A small river, the Lurgy, runs through Termon.
Church
St Columba's Chapel built in 1854 is the Roman Catholic church for the parish.
About the village
There are several hills close to Termon, including Lough Salt (1,539 feet), the hills of Barnes-Crockmore (the "Resting Bishop") at 1,063 feet, 1,145 feet & 1,007 feet respectively, and Stragraddy mountain (935 feet). All the hills have views along Donegal's Atlantic coast line or into the higher mountain country of Muckish (2,185 feet) and Errigal (2,457 feet).
Other sights in the countryside about include:
- Megalithic tombs:
- In Barnes Townland, C107248
- In Gortnalaragh Townland, known locally as Dermot and Groinna, 2 stones visible from the Terhillion Road, C107219
- In Drumbrick townland, C119211
- Standing stone:
- In Barnes townland, C108245
- In Barnes townland, C109241: Ogham standing stones which are thought to be the original boundaries of 'An Tearmann' denoting sanctuary, as those seeking it were thought to be within the Kilmacrenan Abbey
- Cillin:
- in Barnes townland, C109240
- In Clonkilly townland, C125206
- Ringfort, C121216, in Drumbrick townland, at the top of Drumbrick Hill
Religious sites
Several sites around Termon are religiously significant to Roman Catholics in Donegal.
- Doon Well (Tobar an duin) established by Lector O'Friel sometime around the 1670s, but of pre-Christian origin, and which are associated:
- A 'togher' (ancient wooden road) which runs underneath the bog adjacent to Doon Rock
- Bronze Age artefacts found near the well
- The water used in the inauguration ceremony of the O'Donnells would have been carried from the well. Stations and rosary are still 'walked' from St. Columba's chapel to Doon Well on Hogmanay and May eve.
- Mass Rocks, used during the penal times (1695–1741)
- Doon Rock: the site where 25 O'Donnells were inaugurated as chieftains, from Eighneachan in 1200 to Niall Garbh in 1603. Red Hugh O'Donnell was inaugurated on 3 May 1592. Cahir O'Doherty, Lord of Inishowen, was also killed in battle there by Sir Arthur Chichester in 1608, while leading an uprising
- Ethne's Well (Turas an Ri), in the Barnes townland, is named after Columba's mother. It was estemed a holy well and had stations performed on 9 June for nine nights.
Sport
- Gaelic games: Termon GAA, founded in 1963