Choose Ireland » Islands

Corracrin Church

Brian — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:18:26 +0000

St. Patrick’s Church at Corracrin is located on the Dublin Road near the village of Emyvale in County Monaghan. Its churchyard is well known as the burial place of Canon Patrick Moynagh, a priest who helped many local citizens emigrate to Canada during the Famine of 1845.
Between 1830 and 1850, thousands from Monaghan and surrounding counties traveled to and settled on Prince Edward Island, sometimes referred to as New Ireland. They built communities, tended their farms, and practised their trades. They moved on to a prosperous new life, but did not forget Ireland or Reverend Moynagh.
Canon Patrick Moynagh served as parish priest at Donagh until the time of his death in 1860. He was a man remembered for giving freely to the poor. He paid the passage of many of the emigrants to Prince Edward Island, and these emigrants established a connection between the Canadian island and County Monaghan that exists even to the present time.
After Reverend Moynagh’s death his parishioners built a memorial tomb in his honor at St. Patrick’s Church at Corracrin, which is still visited by locals and visiting descendants of the emigrants from Prince Edward Island.

Saint’s Island

Brian — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 11:49:30 +0000

On Saint’s Island, visitors can see the ruins of an Augustinian monastic community from the 14th century. Augustain Magraidin was its most famous abbott at a time when it was a regional centre for learning.

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park

Brian — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:21:15 +0000

From replicas of ancient dwellings to walks though the surrounding boglands, this park is situated on a small island within the Bog of Allen, the country’s largest peatland.
The park was officially opened in 1993 by Mary Robinson. It focuses on the history of Ireland and its people, spanning a time period of nearly 9,500 years.
Displays and Topical Exhibits include:
•A Neolithic Farmstead, complete with the round dwellings, depicting a settlement from 6,000 years ago, where rudimentary crops were grown and animals such as goats, pigs and cows were raised for meat. Accompanying exhibits from this same period include a Celtic Astrology garden and fairy bower from the Newgrange tomb era, when mystic culture was prominent in the lives of the people.
•The Early Christian Visitor Centre, which focuses on the times of great transformation from the mystic to the Christian beliefs. It tells the story of Erc, the druid, who met up with St. Patrick, was converted and built a large monastery at Lullymore. The exhibit items flesh out the story – a stained glass window depicting Erc himself, an oak model of an early monastic settlement, materials on St. Brigid, who was associated with Erc, and a replica of Ogham Stone, the oldest example of Irish writings.
•The 1798 Exhibition depicts the life of John Doorly, a Lullymore man who went on to join the United Irishmen in County Kildare, and fought in many historic battles of 1798. He built a reputation as a rebel leader, and did not surrender with his men in the summer of 1798, but tried to escape by crossing the River Boyne. He was captured and hung at Mullingar Jail, so quickly that his clothes were still wet from his attempted river crossing.
•The Lullymore Road Train offers visitors an opportunity to view the entire park as well as scenic areas of the Bog of Allen.
•The Famine Commemoration area contains a depiction of a period mud house as a well as a graveyard with 47 model graves built in remembrance of 1847, the year that recorded the highest number of famine deaths in the area.
•The Eviction Scene and Soup Kitchen are contained in an indoor exhibit, complete with audiovisuals explaining the famine and outlining its many effects on the people of the area for generations afterward.
•Various folklore sites are sprinkled through the woodlands, focusing on the mystic beliefs and traditions of the ancient tribes, including the Fairy Bower, a tiny village dedicated to the Tuatha De Danann, a people who supposedly ruled Ireland until they were defeated and changed into fairies, tiny beings that may have been a representation of their otherworldly spirits.

Devenish Island Monastery

Brian — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:07:12 +0000

Devenish Island encompasses an area of roughly 70 acres and is located in the southern part of Lower Lough Erne. It contains one of the finest surviving examples of the medieval round tower in all of Ireland. In addition, there are ruins of a monastic settlement, including two churches, the monastery and an oratory, all in close proximity on the southern end of the island.
The Devenish Island monastic community was founded in the 6th century by Saint Molaise, who was described as a man who lived an extraordinary life that was touched repeatedly by the supernatural. Legends say that once, when a snowstorm struck while he was in the midst of an important journey, no snow accumulated on his tent as it had on those of his fellow travelers. St. Molaise was said to have listened intently to the voice of the Holy Spirit in silence during the entire time of the building of the monastery. His feast day is celebrated on September 12th.
During its years of operation, Devenish Island monastery was a site of worship and education. It also shared the work of copying and illuminating important manuscripts with many other Irish monastic communities. This task was especially important because it kept the written treasures of civilization alive after the fall of the Roman Empire, when many copies of then were destroyed.
In 836 and 923, Vikings came to the area, raiding Devenish Island and destroying the monastery and its churches. They were eventually rebuilt. The round tower was used during that period for the dual purpose of keeping sacred documents safe from the raiding parties and standing as a monument to the faith community it served to protect.
During the 12th century, the Church experienced an organizational shift away from the monasteries and toward the diocesan model that included bishops and division into parishes. The Devenish monastic community continued with a secular membership in place, including priests known as culdees, who ministered to the people in many of the same ways as their predecessors, the monks.
In 1259, the alliance of Brian O’Neill, King of Ulster, and Hugh O’Connor, King of Connacht, was cemented against the English on Devenish Island. Its location was conveniently suited for meetings and wartime strategy sessions.
The remains of the Upper Church suggest a15th century, Irish Gothic style of architecture. It is called St. Mary’s Abbey and was used by an Augustinian order that operated on the Island along with the culdees. In 1630, the land was given to Sir John Davies and all religious communities were disbanded.

Castle Archdale Islands

Brian — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:06:16 +0000

In the northeastern part of Lower Lough Erne, just off the coast of Archdale Country Park sit a group of tiny islands. They are actually the tops of small hills, or drumlins, created during the formation of Lough Erne.
The islands are a beautiful sight, especially in autumn when the rare spindle trees appear with dark red leaves and bright pink fruits, accented by the golden aspens. Garden warblers make their homes here, rare birds nesting within the dense foliage.
The most common trees in the park are the oak and ash, and they stand out from the surrounding forests, which contain an abundance of conifers.
These islands once had a rich agricultural potential, but are now long deserted, as evidenced by old irrigation ditches and the ruins of what were once farmhouses. Currently, some of the islands are designated as National Nature Reserves.

Lower Lough Erne

Brian — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:03:30 +0000

The Lough Erne vicinity is filled with panoramic views, surrounded by wooded hillsides. The entire waterway is nearly 50 miles long, and its still, clear waters make it a paradise for boaters and fishermen. The area is steeped in history, as early settlers came here to enjoy the safety and tranquility of Lough Erne’s many inlets and the thick forests of its shores. Island castles dot the landscape, evidence of a strong population during the plantation period of Irish history.
Today, Lough Erne is widely recognized across Europe as a peaceful, clean and uncrowded waterway. Boaters and anglers as well as those who just enjoy observing the beauty of nature frequently visit it.
Swans are common residents of the waterway, along with terns, scoters, and golden warblers, nightjars and sandpipers. They nest and breed on the shorelines and islands. Also common on sections of the lough are herons and great crested grebes.
Species of fish include roach, bream, perch, eels, pike, trout and salmon. Wildflowers grow abundantly along the shorelines, interspersed with rocky areas, and woodlands. The inlets are surrounded with hills and caves enjoyed by hikers and nature explorers alike.

Strangford Lough

Brian — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 09:23:00 +0000

Extending along much of the eastern coast of County Down, Strangford Lough is long and shallow. Much of the waterway is greatly affected by the tidal cycles, with large exposed sand flats that can be seen in low tide and then flood with water when the high tide comes in.
The southern entrance to the sea is called the Narrows, and the strong tidal currents are concentrated there. Two low and two high tides in every 24 hour period flow over the large rock pinnacles on its floor, creating turbulence and whirlpools.
The rest of Strangford Lough represents a diverse collection of seaside environments, from salt marshes to sandy and rocky coastlines and many islands that dot the region of the western shore. The water is generally salt, except for the areas where the Comber and Quoile Rivers enter the Lough. The high populations of algae, insects and plants in the salt marshes make the lough an ideal winter and breeding habitat for a wide variety of birds.
The changeable waters ensure a constant supply of food and mild environment for fish and marine animals as well. Many environmental studies have confirmed the importance of Lough Strangford as a centre for conservation efforts and research.
Its original name was Loch Cuan, meaning harbour lough or haven. Mesolithic settlers migrated here 9000 years ago, drawn to the mild climate and plentiful food supply. The Vikings arrived and named the lough Strang-fijord, which evolved into the current name. Other early occupants lived at Nendrum, an important monastery on Strangford Lough in the early Christian period.
Archaeological finds in the area include wooden and stone fish traps from the northern coast. In the 18th and 19th century, the area was known for its seaweed harvesting. Stone structures used in this pursuit are still visible on the shores, which are also dotted with the ruins of abbeys and tower houses.
Strangford Lough is famous today for its complex and balanced web of wildlife and the ecological conditions that support it. Over 2000 species of plant and animal live undersea alone, including kelp, seaweed, sea anemones, corals, curled octopus, mussels, scallops, plankton, and a variety of fish such as herring, mackerel and cod, as well as porpoises and occasional small whales.
The diverse shoreline, made up from sand, mud, gravel and boulders provides ideal habitats for plants, birds, seals and otters. Beds of dead seaweed that accumulate along the shorelines breed sandhoppers and flies that serve as food for the native birds, badgers and rats.
A popular winter haven for geese and other birds, about 70,000 birds come to Strangford Lough each season. Some use it as a resting point on their migratory journey, others spend their entire winter season here. Turnstones, dunlins and godwits come from the arctic, and Brent Geese come from Canada to feed on the native eel grass along with the flocks of curlew, redshank, and oystercatcher that occupy the salt marshes and islands.
In spring, the islands become a breeding ground, with several types of terns frequenting the area.
Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre on Strangford Lough near Comber provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the natural beauty of the region through bird watching and other educational activities. There are woodland walks and waterfowl gardens filled with ducks, swans and geese. There is also a nature centre and art gallery located on the property.

Scattery Island

Brian — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 09:07:46 +0000

Scattery Island is located in southwest County Clare, at the mouth of the River Shannon. As in so many other parts of Ireland, historical records indicate that its original inhabitants were members of a monastery. St. Senan founded the monastic site on Scattery Island in the 6th century. Legend says he first banished a sea serpent from the island, and that he forbade the presence of women on the island. One of his famous pupils was St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise.
The buildings of the monastic settlement were attacked and raided repeatedly by the Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. Despite centuries of pillaging, a round tower and cathedral survive, relatively intact among the ruins. Other buildings in the island include four churches, a castle, the last village, which was abandoned in 1978, a gun battery and fort, a holy well, and a lighthouse. During the 10th century, the island is believed to have been the site of a Viking colony. It is currently owned by the Duchas, or Heritage Service, and conservation and renovation work continues.
Scattery Island’s Interpretative Centre is actually located on the mainland. The island is accessible by ferry from the area near the Centre. Visitors there learn about the history of the island and the following sites:
Teampall na Marbh
Of the four churches on the island, this appears to have been the only one with an adjoining graveyard. There are gravestones everywhere, mostly because burial custom dictated that relatives of the decease not visit the cemetery once the internment ritual was completed. This ritual included the funeral, which traditionally required six pallbearers, and traditional prayers and blessing at the gravesite. After the coffin was buried, the gravediggers placed their shovels on top in the form of a cross.
No one visited the grave for a month afterward. Then, on the one-month anniversary, mourners returned for a ritual known as Flagging Day. Gravediggers then removed the shovels, while family members sprinkled holy water on the grave and broke a glass bottle. Then they turned over two stones, said the rosary, and broke a glass kept from the wake, all actions that the symbolized the soul’s departure from purgatory.
O’Cahane Castle
The remains of this tower house date back to the Elizabethan period. The structure belonged to Siacus O’Cahane, and two of its original vaults remain.
Cathedral
The abbey church sits to the east of the castle tower, and contains portions from the 7th or 8th century, as well as the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. The oldest portions are known as a Damliag, ancient Irish word for stone building. The east wall features a gothic window topped with the stone carved head of a bishop, thought to be St.Senan.
An oratory, located near the cathedral, includes a small choir, and is also constructed from ancient foundations with additions from more recent times.
Temple Senain
On the hill north of the main cluster of churches, this roofless building also appears to have been constructed over several centuries. This probably indicates the frequency with which the island was attacked, destroyed, and rebuilt over the centuries.
St Senan’s Bed
This site is widely believed to be the saint’s burial place. He died on March 8th 544 at Kylenagallger. A metal bar crosses the entrance to this small oratory. Local lore says that it was placed there to keep young women from entering, those that did were rendered childless. A large stone slab nearby contains a carved cross and words in Irish that translate—”a prayer for Moinach, tutor of Mogron”.
The Battery
Located on the southern tip of the island, its purpose was to guard the area where ships anchored. It is a D shaped structure that once held 24 pounder guns, aimed to fire upon the estuary. There is also a blockhouse in the rear that contains barracks and additional guns on its roof. A drawbridge once spanned the dry moat that extends around the perimeter of the battery.
The Street
This actually refers to the town, originally set up in 1841. Families of the Kilbah river pilots once lived here, but it is now abandoned .
The Lighthouse
Guides ships from the sea into Scattery Roads and up into the River Shannon. It was built in 1868 with a house for the light keeper and a stand for the lantern, after a storm destroyed the metal frame that was used previously. Over the years, as technology changed, an attendant who periodically checks on lighthouse operations replaced the keeper who actually lived at the lighthouse.

Lough Neagh

Brian — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:10:57 +0000

Lough Neagh is widely known as the largest lake of fresh water throughout the British Isles. It is 20 miles long and nine miles wide and mostly shallow, but reported to be as many as 80 feet deep in spots. It encompasses an area of about 153 square miles. Lough Neagh receives its water from six rivers, and empties into the Lower Bann, which carries the water out to the sea. It is the primary water source for much of Belfast, and has a reputation as a prime fishing area known for its eels and as a habitat for a broad variety of bird life.
The origin of Lough Neagh is deeply rooted in legend. Folklore says that the Irish giant, Fion Mac Cumhaill, popularly known as Finn MacCool, dug up a fist full of the Irish soil and threw it at an enemy over in Scotland. The hole left behind filled up and became Lough Neagh, while the soil landed in Irish Sea and formed what is known as the Isle of Man.
Fin MacCool himself was the leader of the Fianna, warriors whose job it was to keep Ireland safe from foreign invaders. Finn was a wise leader and a strong warrior, with special mental powers. He had a huge dog named Bran, who is believed to have been the first of the Irish Wolfhound breed.
The Fianna were able to travel into the world of the supernatural, including the afterlife. Finn was known as a giant of great proportions, and is credited in Irish folklore with the building of the Giant’s Causeway in nearby County Antrim.
Lough Neagh’s shorelines belong to five different counties of Northern Ireland. Native fish include salmon, pollen, perch, dollagh (also known as Lough Neagh trout), bream, and roach. The waterway is an integral part of the area’s economic development, providing income for the locals and recreational opportunities for visitors.
The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre is a fully staffed facility that schedules guided tours and nature walks, as well as bird watching sessions. It features an excellent café, craft shops that sell creations of local artists, and meeting rooms for various occasions.
The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre is located on Oxford Island, really a peninsula, on the southern shore. Some of the best recreational areas can be found nearby.
Toome, on the north shore, features the area’s largest eel fishery, which sends their catch off to some of the country’s best restaurants.
Peatlands Park is another Lough Neagh recreational area. It provides a popular railroad tour of the regions boglands.

Clare Island

Brian — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:38:23 +0000

Clare Island sits at the mouth of Clew Bay, which is dotted with small islands –365 of them. Clare is the largest, and home to about 150 people who enjoy beautiful views of Connemara and Achill Island across the bay.
The pirate queen, Granuaile, also known as Grace O’Malley, is buried here in a Cistercian Abbey that dates back to the 12th century. One of her 15th century towers still stands in the harbor.
The Clare Island of today represents a haven for those looking for peaceful, untouched beaches and landscape. It can be reached by ferry from Roonagh Pier, near Louisburgh. The island is a perfect place for cycling, fishing and bird and wildlife observation.