Fenit Island
| Fenit Island | |
 Castle on "Fenit Within" | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Location: | 52°17’37"N, 9°52’33"W |
| Grid reference: | Q721174 |
| Data | |
Fenit Island is a populated island, on the coast of County Kerry, connected to the mainland by a sandbar. Located in Tralee Bay, the island encloses Barrow Harbour.[1]
Historically, the area was called 'Fenit Within'. It is adjacent to the areas of 'Tawlacht' and 'Fenit Without' on the mainland. The terms within/without refer to the walled protection that surrounded parts of the island from attackers from the landward side.
The island is accessible by foot along the sandbar at most times, and by car at low tide, by driving on the beach. Many old ruins exist on the island, including a castle, two churches and a graveyard.[2][3] The castle is the only one of these ruins that remain visible today. It was built by the FitzMaurices in the 17th century.
Enclosing Barrow Harbour from Tralee Bay, to protect Barrow Harbour from seaborne attackers, an iron or steel chain (also known as a boom) was stretched across the neck of water, between the mainland and the island near the castle.
St Brendan the Navigator is said to have been born on Fenit Island.
References
- ↑ Lewis, Samuel (1840). A topographical dictionary of Ireland: vol. 1 (2nd ed.). London: S. Lewis & Co.. p. 617. https://archive.org/details/b22012333_0001. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ↑ Information on Fenit Island from GENUKI
- ↑ "The Teampaillín - Fenit Island" (in en). https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706321/4702382/4724475.