Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient monastic
settlement of "huge national importance" during excavation work for a
church car park.
The treasure trove is set to put a boggy field beside an old rural parish church on the archaeological map of Ireland.
Archaeologist Mick Drumm compared the find in Co Donegal this week to the settlement at Clonmacnoise.
The field beside the Drumholm Church of Ireland graveyard, near the village of Ballintra, is set to be classified an Irish national monument as a result of just two days' excavation work.