Duvillaun facts for kids
Duvillaun (pronounced Doo-vil-awn) means "Black Island." It's a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located off the coast of North Mayo in Ireland. These islands are found south of the Inishkea Islands and Inishglora. The biggest island is called Duvillaun More (which means "Big Black Island"). Other islands in the group include Duvillaun Beg (meaning "Little Black Island"), Turduvillaun, Shiraghy Islands, Keely, Gaghta Island, and Leamareha Island.
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What is Duvillaun Made Of?
Even though the Duvillaun islands are close to the Mullet Peninsula on the mainland, they are made of a different type of rock. Duvillaun is mostly made of quartzite rock, which is also found on Achill Island. This is different from the Mullet Peninsula, which is mainly made of rocks like schists, slate, gneiss, and white psammite, with some granite too.
Unlike the nearby Inishkea and Inishglora islands, which have lots of white sand and a special type of grassland called machair, Duvillaun has a lot of blanket bog. This is a type of peat bog that covers large areas. Duvillaun Mor has about 180 acres (0.73 km2) of grassland, and Duvillaun Beg has around 70 acres (280,000 m2) of grassland.
Who Lived on Duvillaun?
People used to live on the Duvillaun islands until the late 1800s. At that time, everyone moved to the mainland. Today, the islands are a special place for birds. They are a bird sanctuary, which means birds can nest and live there without people bothering them.
What Birds Live on Duvillaun?
Many different coastal birds call Duvillaun home. Fulmars and kittiwakes build their nests on the cliffs. Peregrine falcons fly high above, watching carefully for their next meal. Smaller birds like Storm petrels and Leach's petrels find shelter among the old, empty buildings. Other birds you might see there include shags, cormorants, choughs, and terns.
Ancient History of Duvillaun Mor
Duvillaun Mor is only about a kilometer away from Falmore, which is at the southern tip of the Mullet Peninsula. This island has very old remains from a monastery. These buildings likely date back to the Early Christian period, which was between the 6th and 8th centuries AD. These remains are similar to other old sites found on Inishkea South and Inishglora.
What Ancient Buildings Can You Find?
On Duvillaun Mor, there is an oratory, which is a small chapel, similar to the famous Gallerus type. There is also a tomb made with large stone slabs. One of these stones has a picture of the crucifixion carved into it. You can also see some beehive huts, which are round stone shelters, like those on Inishglora. Interestingly, unlike Inishglora, Duvillaun doesn't have a specific 'saint' or religious group linked to its ancient buildings. The tomb on the island is known as 'Uaimh na Naoimh,' which means 'The Saint's tomb.'
