Population 0 | Area 17 ha | |
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Church Island (Irish: Inis Mór, "big island") is an island situated in Lough Gill, Ireland.
Contents
Map of Church Island, Clogherrevagh, Co. Sligo, Ireland
The island
Church Island is an island of 16.8 ha (42 acres) located in the centre of Lough Gill.
Church
The church is said to have been founded by Lommán of Trim. The church on Church Island is National Monument #118.
It is an early Christian ruin and belonged to the Ó Ruairc, rulers of Bréifne. The building is oblong, has loophole windows and a recess at one end. Near the door there is a cavity in a rock, known as ‘lady's bed’, which was a frequent place of pilgrimage for pregnant woman. In 1416, according to the Annals, ‘The church of Inis Mor, in Lough Gill, was burned; and Screaptra ui Chuirnin [O'Curnin's manuscripts], and the Leabhar Gearr of the O'Cuirnins, as well as many other precious articles, were burned also.’