Ardoileán
Encyclopedia
Ardoileán or Ard Oileán, known in English
as High Island (a translation of the Irish
name), is a small island off the northwest coast of Connemara
in County Galway
, Ireland
. It was once the site of an early Irish monastic community.
, which were settled by hermits and monastic communities in the early Christian period. Other such islands in the direct vicinity of Ardoiléan include Clare Island
, Chapel Island
, Caher Island
, Inishturk
, Inishbofin
and Inishark
. Since (at least) the seventh century, Ardoiléan had been the site of an early monastery or hermitage, reputedly founded by St Féchín of Fore (d. 665).
Above the south landing-place, near the remains of the monastery, there is a Christian cross-slab dating perhaps to the seventh century.
, then a resident of Inishbofin. In personal memoirs published by Granta in The Kick (2002), Murphy remembers the opportunity when the previous owner considered selling the island: "I got excited at the thought of buying this inaccessible holy island, restoring the beehive cells and oratory of its derelict hermitage and preserving the place from destruction either by tourists or by sheep."
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as High Island (a translation of the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name), is a small island off the northwest coast of Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was once the site of an early Irish monastic community.
Hermitage
It is one of thirty-odd islands off the west coast of Ireland, between Inishtrahull and Clear IslandClear Island
Clear Island or Cape Clear Island lies south west of County Cork in Ireland. It is the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland and has a population of over 100 people. Officially it is a Gaeltacht and most inhabitants speak Irish and English...
, which were settled by hermits and monastic communities in the early Christian period. Other such islands in the direct vicinity of Ardoiléan include Clare Island
Clare Island
Clare Island is a mountainous island guarding the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is famous as the home of the pirate queen, Gráinne O'Malley...
, Chapel Island
Chapel Island
Chapel Island is a limestone outcrop that lies in the Leven estuary of Morecambe Bay in England, less than one mile from the shoreline at Bardsea in the area known as Ulverston Sands. It is located at . It is one of the Islands of Furness in the county of Cumbria, in the area of the historic...
, Caher Island
Caher Island
Caher Island , an uninhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland, is situated between the larger Clare Island and Inishturk. An ancient centre for pilgrimage, it is still visited for this reason today. On the 15th of August every year, the Feast of the Assumption, there is a pilgrimage...
, Inishturk
Inishturk
Inishturk is an inhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland. It has a permanent population of about seventy people. There are two main settlements, both on the more sheltered eastern end of the island, Ballyheer and Garranty. Bellavaun and Craggy are abandoned settlements...
, Inishbofin
Inishbofin, Galway
Inishbofin is an island lying about off the coast of Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. It is about 5.5 km long and wide, and has around 200 inhabitants. The island is popular with artists. Inishbofin can be reached by ferry from the pier in Cleggan...
and Inishark
Inishark
Inishark or Inishshark , sometimes called Shark Island, is a small island neighbouring the larger Inishbofin in County Galway, Ireland.-Overview:...
. Since (at least) the seventh century, Ardoiléan had been the site of an early monastery or hermitage, reputedly founded by St Féchín of Fore (d. 665).
Above the south landing-place, near the remains of the monastery, there is a Christian cross-slab dating perhaps to the seventh century.
Modern history
Between 1969 and 1998, the island was in the possession of Irish poet Richard MurphyRichard Murphy (poet)
Richard Murphy is an Irish poet. He is a member of Aosdána and currently lives in Sri Lanka.-Early years:Murphy was born to an Anglo-Irish family at Milford House, near the Mayo-Galway border, in 1927...
, then a resident of Inishbofin. In personal memoirs published by Granta in The Kick (2002), Murphy remembers the opportunity when the previous owner considered selling the island: "I got excited at the thought of buying this inaccessible holy island, restoring the beehive cells and oratory of its derelict hermitage and preserving the place from destruction either by tourists or by sheep."
See also
- Gormgal of ArdoileánGormgal of Ardoileán-Biography:The monastry of Ardoileán, off the west coast of Ireland, was founded by Feichin in 664. It is now gone but on its site sits a medieval church, completely buried in sand until it was excavated in 1981....
- CaolánnCaolánn-Biography:Caolánn is credited with writing a Life of Brigid of Kildare in Latin verse. He seems to have built the first chapel on Croughnakeela, an island two miles west of Macdara's Island, off the coast of Connemara....
, fl. 7th century. - MocánMocán-Biography:Mocán established Teampall Inis Adhaimh south-east of Carraroe, Connemara. Very little seems to be known of him, other than he belongs to the medieval era.-References:...
- Seven Sisters of RenvyleSeven Sisters of Renvyle-Biography:The Seven Sisters of Renvyle were said to be the daughters of a King of Leinster, or a chief of Omey Island. They preached along the coast of Conmhaícne Mara, lending their names to holy wells at Renvyle, Cleggan, Aillebrack, Doon Hill, Mweenish Island and a cursing stone...
Secondary sources
- Herity, Michael. "The Hermitage on Ardoileán, Co Galway." Journal of the Royal Society of the Antiquaries of Ireland 120 (1990). pp. 65–101.
- Macalister, R.A.S. "The Antiquities of Ard Oilean, Co. Galway." Journal of the Royal Society of the Antiquaries of Ireland 26 (1896). pp. 196–210.
Poetry
- Murphy, Richard. High Island: New and Selected Poems. Harper and Row, 1975.
- Murphy, Richard. High Island. Faber, 1974.