About

The Disert Heritage Project is a community based archaeological research project set up by the Disert Heritage Group and IT Sligo (now Atlantic Technological University) to learn about and preserve the unique archaeological  landscape surrounding St Colmcille’s holy well in the townland of Disert, in the parish of Inver, Co Donegal. Since 2019 Disert Heritage Group and Atlantic Technological University also teamed up with California State University LA and with the US-based Institute for Field Research to carry out archaeological excavations at Disert.

Project sponsors and funding agencies:

The primary sponsorship for the creation (2016) and implementation (2017 and 2018) of the Conservation Management Plan was from the Heritage Council, In 2019 we received funding through Institute of Technology Sligo, California State University LA, the Institute for Field Research, Donegal Co. Co Development Fund Initiative and Donegal Co. Co. Heritage Office. In 2021 funded was provided by IT Sligo and Donegal Co. Co. and supported though the Colmcille1500 Grant Scheme which was funded by the North West Development Fund and Creative Ireland, in conjunction with and supported by The Executive Office and The Irish Government.  In 2022-2025 the project was funded by Atlantic Technological University, California State University LA, the Institute for Field Research, and Creative Ireland, Donegal County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The project and the Disert Heritage Group have also received financial and in-kind aid and sponsorship of activities and events from the following between 2016 and 2024: Abbey Hotel, Bluestack Centre; Patsy Boyle Tiling; California State University Los Angeles, Cllr John Campbell, Cllr Noel Jordan, Donegal Co. Co. Development Fund Initiative; Colmcille1500 which was funded by the North West Development Fund and Creative Ireland, in conjunction with and supported by the Executive Office and The Irish Government; Gallagher Cabs; Heritage Council; Letterbarrow Celtic FC; Michael McGroarty Monumental Sculpture; Seamus Sheerin Stores.  We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors and funding agencies, without whom this project could not have been completed!