The Iron Age period in Ireland was one of considerable importance as the strength of the Celtic identity was developed then. Of this period one of the most important reminders in the landscape is the inauguration stone known as St Onan’s rock at Gortnamoyan. Although hidden in undergrowth and found only by the most determined this was once a site of considerable importance. Another feature of the late Iron Age Irish landscape are the raths of which it is believed there area about 7000 in Northern Ireland alone. Raths were defended farmstead enclosures which often stood on dominant positions in the landscape and continued to be a feature of that landscape in to Christian period.

Beyond its wealth of prehistoric monuments, Ireland’s other great contribution to knowledge of the human past comes from the early rise of Christianity on the island. This again is reflected in the historic environment of Glenullin. The early church sites at Ballintemple dedicated to St. Adamnan is of major importance as its foundation dates to the late 6th century. The church associated with a nearby souterrain (excavated by May and Cooper in 1933) and a bullaun stone. The church continued to as a parish church into the medieval period and, although it is now ruined, the graveyard continues to be in use.

The landscape of Glenullin, in common with most of Northern Ireland, is divided into town lands. These historic land divisions reflect the natural form of the landscape as they are usually delimited by natural features such as rivers, streams, hills and ridges. The townlands are often named after local features of the landscape. The physical landscape is also crossed by ancient route ways and of particular significance are the Famine roads which date to the period of famine due to potato blight in the 19th century. The land remains in single family ownership for generations and this is an important factor in maintaining the historic landscape.

One can not study the history of Ireland without considering the religious history. In Errigal there is a ruined grain mill. Its building was justified on agricultural grounds but it was designed to represent a church during the period of the Penal Laws when taking the catholic sacraments was outlawed. This was used for catholic services on Sundays for a period of thirty years or so and when the miller/priest died he was buried in the “church” and services ceased.

The oral tradition has long been important in the valley and beyond. The long-standing tradition of the ceili has all but died away in the television age. However the craic and the enjoyment of folklore and storytelling play an important role in binding a dispersed community together.

Probably the greatest element of folklore in the glen is that associated with the site known as Dracula’s grave. There is strong evidence to suggest that when he was writing the story of Dracula, Bram Stoker was aware of the tale of Abhartach. Abhartach was a Celtic tribal chieftain who was a ruthless leader of his people. Eventually Abhartach’s people had another local chieftain Cathan come and kill their king. He was buried standing upright in a grave befitting of an Irish chieftain. The next day Abharatch returned demanding a bowl of blood. The people had Cathan kill him again but he returned again and again. A local druid told Abhartach was one of the walking dead and could not be killed but only restrained. The druid advised how Abhartach should be killed and buried upside down and a rock placed over his grave. Local folklore suggests that those who attempt to disturb or even photograph the grave may well upset Abhartach, the walking dead.