Gleann Cholm Cille, anglicised as Glencolumbkille or Glencolmcille, is a small district on the Atlantic coast of southwest County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. Named after Saint Colm Cille (Columba), it is also a civil parish in the historic barony of Banagh. Glencolmcille is in the Gaeltacht, and while it remains an Irish-speaking community, English has been steadily replacing Irish as the main language, with only 34% of residents speaking Irish on a daily basis in 2002. The village of Cashel is the main settlement in the district. History The earliest recorded names for the district were Glend (meaning simply 'Glen' or 'Valley') and Senglenn (meaning 'Old Glen' or 'Old Valley'). The district later became known as Gleann Cholm Cille, probably in the fifteenth-century. This later, and current, name means 'Valley of Colm Cille'. The district's current name was first fully recorded only in 1532, when it was written in Maghnas Ó Domhnaill's Betha Colaim Chille (Life of Colm Cille) as being: ag tSenglenda a crich Ceneoil Conill ris a raiter Glend Colaim Cilli aniug ('at the river of Seanghleann [Old Glen] in the territory of the Cenél Conaill, which is called Gleann Cholm Cille today'). Saint Colm Cille, or Columba, is one of Ireland's three patron saints (along with Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid). He and his followers supposedly lived in the valley for a time and the ruins of several of their churches can still be seen there. The district was once famous as being the parish of The V. Rev. James Canon McDyer (1910–1987), who championed the rights of rural people and helped establish community-based industries in the area. A parish council (Comhairle Paróiste Ghleann Cholm Cille) has been functioning in Glencolmcille since the 1930s, to look after the interests and needs of the residents. Members are elected to this body every four years by the residents of the Glencolmcille church area. Historic sites Four sites make up National Monument #139: Glencolumbkille Cashel () — A penitential station, also called Glencolumbkille Turas (Irish for "journey"). Every 9 June the local people go through 15 "stations." It begins at a court cairn, constructed 3000 BC. The pilgrim circles the cairn three times sunwise, while praying, places his/her back to the stone, then renounces the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Glencolumbkille Church () — A holy well is located in Beefan townland. Malin Beg ()