Colmcille, also called Columba, founded a monastery at Drumcliffe in 574AD at the foot of Ben Bulben Mountain. As typical with most monasteries, a tall roundtower was constructed, though not until around the 10th century. Roundtowers typically acted as bell towers as well as places of refuge against attacks from both Vikings and local clans. A local legend says, "The tower will fall when the wisest man in the world passes under it." The monastery suffered extensive fire damage in 1267, then tower was struck by lightning in 1396.

The high cross at the entrance to the churchyard is also of 10th century origins and is typical of high crosses across Ireland, and includes hand-carved scenes from the Bible, including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Daniel in the Lion's Den and Christ in Glory, and on its west face a Crucifixion and other unidentified images.

The original monastery is all but gone today, though when the current chapel was built in 1809 builders used stones from a former structure that may have been an earlier church. Even parts of a high cross have been found in the walls. Visitors are welcome to explore the chapel. The two most notable items include the pipe organ located on the gallery over the entrance on the western wall, and the mural on the east wall which reads, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Do This In Remembrance of Me." This chapel was consecrated as St Columba's Church of Ireland.

While the history of this site dates back nearly 1500 years, this site is most notable for being the final resting place of poet William Butler Years who lived from 1865 to 1939. Yeats died in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in France in January 1939 and his remains were returned to Ireland in 1948 by the Irish Naval Service and re-inturred here. A large number of local people and dignitaries, including the Minister for External Affairs, Seán McBride, were present at the service.

Yeats succumbed in January 1939 while he was in France. He was buried at Roquebruce-Cap-Martin after a private service. He and Georgie had often talked about his death and his express wishes. According to Georgie, "His actual words were 'If I die bury me up there (at Roquebrune) and then in a year's time when the newspapers have forgotten me, dig me up and plant me in Sligo." In 1948, his wish was granted and his body was moved to Drumcliffe with the aid of the Irish Naval Service.

The epitaph is taken from the last lines of one of his final poems, "Under Ben Bulben"...

Cast a cold Eye
On Life, on Death.
Horseman, pass by.

Georgie was buried along side William when she passed away in 1968.

Mural

Pipe Organ

~ Free car parking available
~ Visitors center with cafe and gift shop
~ accessable area