Church Island (Lough Currane) Explained

Church Island is a medieval Christian monastery and National Monument located in Lough Currane, Ireland.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Location

Church Island is located on a 1.8ha island in Lough Currane, 2.8km (01.7miles) east of Waterville.^[6] It is also known as Inis Uasail ("Upper Island").^[7]

History

The monastery on Lough Currane claims its foundation from Saint Fionán Cam (6th century AD).^{[8] [9]}

The oak church (dairthech) was replaced in the 12th century by a Romanesque stone building, some of which survives.^[10]

Description

There is a stone church, a clochán (perhaps a hospitium) and two further cells for other monks. There are three altars, 11 cross slabs and pillar stones.^{[11] [12]} The church contains a relief carving of a musician playing a lyre.^{[13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oileán an Teampaill/Church Island. Logainm.ie.
2. Web site: National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship . 4 March 2009 . National Monuments Service . Ireland . 12 May 2021 .
3. Web site: Guide through Ireland. James Fraser (of. Dublin.). 9 March 2018. Google Books.
4. Web site: The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Royal Society of Antiquaries of. Ireland. 9 March 2018. The Society. Google Books.
5. Web site: The Irish Digest. 9 March 1963. Irish Digest. Google Books.
6. Web site: Church Island, Lough Currane, Waterville, Kerry, Ireland - Things to See and do | Location | Activeme.ie. 5 November 2013.
7. Web site: Church Island in Lough Currane, Co. Kerry - Map, Locate, Directions, Contact. eDynamics. Ltd.. mypois.ie.
8. Web site: Church Island. Mike. Daly.
9. Book: The Iveragh Peninsula: a cultural atlas of the Ring of Kerry. John. Crowley. John. Sheehan. 9 March 2018. Cork University Press. 9781859184301. Google Books.
10. Book: Murphy, J. A.. The Church of Ireland in Co Kerry. 29 January 2012 . Lulu.com. 9781471080258. Google Books.
11. Web site: Church island lough currane (also called termons), County Kerry. www.earlychristianireland.net.
12. Book: Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of. Journal. 253. Church Island Lough Currane.. 1855. Internet Archive.
13. Book: Early Medieval Munster: Archaeology, History and Society. Michael A.. Monk. John. Sheehan. 9 March 1998. Cork University Press. 9781859181072. Google Books.
14. Web site: The Islands of Ireland: Monastic, musical and magical Church Island. 18 September 2017.