Church Island (Valentia Harbour) facts for kids
| Oileán an Teampaill | |
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 7th century AD |
| Disestablished | before 1100 |
| Diocese | Kerry |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Valentia Harbour, County Kerry |
| Coordinates | 51°56′15″N 10°17′00″W / 51.937597°N 10.283343°W |
| Public access | yes |
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National Monument of Ireland
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| Official name | Church Island (Valentia Harbour) Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site |
| Reference no. | 59 |
Church Island is a medieval Christian monastery and National Monument located in Valentia Harbour, Ireland.
Location
Church Island is located on a 1-acre (0.4 ha) island in Valentia Harbour, immediately west of Beginish, 1.4 km (0.87 mi) north of Knightstown.
History
The island was anciently a centre for iron smelting.
The monastery was established in the 7th century AD.
Excavations by M. J. O'Kelly in 1955–56 turned up the remnants of a wooden oratory and a cross inscribed with Ogham. It also gave evidence of the diet of the monks: cod, ballan wrasse, oats, barley, gannet, shag, cormorant, goose, duck, beef, mutton, pork, goat meat, horsemeat and seal.
Description
Contains the remains of a stone oratory, clochán (possibly a hospitium), and holy well.
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Church Island (Valentia Harbour) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.