Inishkeel
| Inishkeel Irish: Inis Caoil | |
 Building at the south-east end of Inishkeel | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Location: | 54°50’51"N, 8°27’22"W |
| Grid reference: | B708000 |
| Area: | 97 acres |
| Data | |
| Population: | 0 |
Inishkeel is a small tidal island and townland off the coast of County Donegal. The closest village on the mainland is Narin.
The island lies in Gweebarra Bay around 300 yards from the coast. A sandy tidal bank connects, with low tide, the island with the mainland.
History
During the 6th century A.D. a small community of monks settled on the island.[1] Their religious leader was Saint Conall Cael, from whom the island later derived its name. During the following centuries Inishkeel was a traditional destination of pilgrimages. Remains of the church and the connected buildings as well as some carved stones can be seen on the island.[2] For its artistic and archaeological importance, the island is noted as a National Monument.[3] A bell known as St Conall Cael's Bell remained on Inishkeel up to the 19th century and was then acquired by the British Museum.[4]
People
A small community used to live on Inishkeel in the past, and in year 1841 23 inhabitants were registered on the island.[5]
The island was later abandoned and by the 2011 census it had no inhabitants.
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Inishkeel) |
References
- ↑ Meehan, Cary (2004). Sacred Ireland. Somerset: Gothic Image Publications. p. 116. ISBN 0 906362 43 1.
- ↑ Inishkeel Monastic Site: Megalithic Ireland
- ↑ National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship. National Monuments Service / Seirbhís na Séadcomharthaí Náisiúnta. 2009. https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-donegal.pdf. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ↑ Rowena Loverance (2007). Christian Art. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674024793. https://books.google.com/books?id=FgQ2tHIgXZEC&q=Inishkeel&pg=PA74. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ↑ Commissioners 4th Rpt, p.15 Newport West E Division
- Inis Caoil / Inishkeel: Placenames Database of Ireland