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 |
| Official name | Church Island (Valentia Harbour) Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site |
| Reference no. | 59 |
Church Island is a special place in Ireland. It was once a Christian monastery, a home for monks. Today, it is a National Monument, which means it's protected.
This historic site is found in Valentia Harbour, in County Kerry. It's a fascinating glimpse into Ireland's past.
Contents
Where is Church Island?
Church Island is on a small island. This island is about 1 acre (0.4 hectares) in size. It sits in Valentia Harbour.
You can find it just west of another island called Beginish. It's also about 1.4 kilometers north of Knightstown.
A Look Back in Time
Church Island has a long history. Long ago, people used the island for making iron. This shows how important the island was even before the monastery.
The Monastery's Beginning
The monastery itself was built a very long time ago. It was established in the 7th century AD. That's over 1300 years ago! Monks lived and worshipped here.
What We Learned from Digs
In the years 1955 and 1956, a person named M. J. O'Kelly led some excavations. This is when archaeologists dig carefully to find old things. They found exciting clues about the monastery.
They discovered parts of a wooden oratory. An oratory is a small chapel or prayer room. They also found a cross with Ogham writing. Ogham is an ancient Irish alphabet. It uses lines and notches carved into stone.
The excavations also showed what the monks ate. They had a varied diet! They ate fish like cod and ballan wrasse. They also ate grains like oats and barley. For meat, they had birds like gannet and cormorant. They also ate beef, mutton, pork, and even seal.
What You Can See Today
Even though it's very old, some parts of the monastery still remain. You can see the ruins of a stone oratory. This was likely where the monks prayed.
There are also remains of a clochán. A clochán is a stone hut. It might have been a hospitium, which is a guesthouse for visitors. You can also find a holy well on the island.
