Description
Donegal Bay, Offshore County Sligo, Ireland
Four miles out to sea in Donegal Bay rests the Monastic Island of Inishmurray. Literally hidden in plain sight, Inishmurray is an early Christian settlement founded by Saint Molaise in the 6th century. This little 2.5 mile long island contains various historical buildings which include a stone-roofed oratory, two churches, a clochán (large beehive-shaped cell) a holy well, cross slabs and countless gravestones. As you can see the remains of which are remarkably intact to this day.
The island’s monastic settlement was attacked in 795 AD and again in 807 by the Vikings! Eventually the monks abandoned the island, and it remained uninhabited until the 12th century. A thousand years later the island’s population peaked at just over 100 in the 1880s, but the last islanders moved on to the mainland on November 12th, 1948. Thankfully most of these buildings are still standing including 15 houses and a school.
Four miles out to sea in Donegal Bay rests the Monastic Island of Inishmurray. Literally hidden in plain sight, Inishmurray is an early Christian settlement founded by Saint Molaise in the 6th century. This little 2.5 mile long island contains various historical buildings which include a stone-roofed oratory, two churches, a clochán (large beehive-shaped cell) a holy well, cross slabs and countless gravestones. As you can see the remains of which are remarkably intact to this day.
The island’s monastic settlement was attacked in 795 AD and again in 807 by the Vikings! Eventually the monks abandoned the island, and it remained uninhabited until the 12th century. A thousand years later the island’s population peaked at just over 100 in the 1880s, but the last islanders moved on to the mainland on November 12th, 1948. Thankfully most of these buildings are still standing including 15 houses and a school.
