Church Island (Lough Gill) facts for kids
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Native name:
Inis Mór
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Sunset at Church Island
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 Church Island
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Lough Gill |
| Coordinates | 54°15′06″N 8°23′28″W / 54.251791°N 8.390983°W |
| Area | 0.17 km2 (0.066 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | Sligo |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Church Island (which is called Inis Mór in Irish, meaning "big island") is a small island in Lough Gill, a beautiful lake in Ireland. Even though its name means "big island," it's actually quite small.
Exploring Church Island
Church Island is officially known as Inis Mór. It covers about 17 hectares (which is like 42 acres) and sits right in the middle of Lough Gill. This makes it a central and interesting spot in the lake.
Many local people believe that this island is the one mentioned in a famous poem by William Butler Yeats. The poem is called "The Lake Isle of Inishfree." Even though there's another island named Inishfree, it's too tiny for people to live on. Also, it doesn't quite match Yeats's description in his poem. People who used to work at a nearby house, Clogherevagh House, remember Yeats visiting often. They say he took many trips to Church Island, which supports the idea that this was his inspiration.
The Ancient Church
There is an old church ruin on Church Island. It is believed that a saint named Lommán of Trim first built a church here a very long time ago.
This church is considered a National Monument in Ireland. This means it's a very important historical site that is protected.
The church is an early Christian ruin. It once belonged to the Ó Ruairc family, who were powerful rulers of a kingdom called Bréifne. The building has a long, rectangular shape. It has narrow windows that look like loopholes and a special carved space (called a recess) at one end.
Near the church door, there is a hollow in a rock. Locals call it 'lady's bed'. In the past, pregnant women would often visit this spot as a special pilgrimage.
Sadly, in the year 1416, a fire broke out on the island. The church of Inis Mór was burned. Many valuable items were lost in the fire, including important old books and manuscripts belonging to the O'Cuirnin family.
