Illaunloughan facts for kids
| Oileán Lócháin | |
 Location in Ireland
|
|
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | late 7th century AD |
| Disestablished | 9th century AD |
| Diocese | Kerry |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Portmagee, County Kerry |
| Coordinates | 51°53′12″N 10°22′24″W / 51.886589°N 10.373427°W |
| Visible remains | stone oratory, a reliquary and a stone beehive hut |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Illaunloughan Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site |
Illaunloughan is a very old Christian monastery and a special National Monument in County Kerry, Ireland. It is found on a tiny island, only about the size of a small park. This island is in the Portmagee Channel, which separates Valentia Island from the Iveragh Peninsula.
Contents
History of Illaunloughan
When the Monastery Was Built
A monastery was started here in the late 600s AD. This was a time when early Christian communities were growing in Ireland. However, the monastery stopped being used by the 800s AD.
Who Founded Illaunloughan?
Two saints named Lochan are mentioned in an old book called the Martyrology of Tallaght. This book was written around 800 AD. One of these saints might have been the person who started the monastery. Interestingly, "lochan" can also mean "seaweed" in Irish.
A Stop for Pilgrims
Illaunloughan might have been a stopping point for people on religious journeys. These travelers, called pilgrims, were often on their way to Skellig Michael. Skellig Michael is another famous island monastery located about 17 kilometers (9 nautical miles) to the southwest.
What We Learned from Digging
When archaeologists dug at the site, they found ancient trash piles called middens. These middens contained leftovers from meals, like meat, oats, seabirds, and fish. They also found traces of simple earthen prayer rooms, called oratories. Evidence of fine metalwork being made there was also discovered.
Later Uses of the Island
Up until the 1900s, Illaunloughan was used as a special burial ground. It was a place called a cillín, where unbaptized infants were buried. Local people also used it as a general graveyard.
What You Can See at Illaunloughan
Ancient Stone Buildings
Today, you can see several ancient stone structures from the 700s. These include dry stone oratories, which were small prayer houses built without mortar. There are also stone altars, known as leachta.
Shrine for Holy Items
You can also find a special gable shrine. This shrine was used to hold relics, which are holy items belonging to the saints of the community. These relics were decorated with shiny quartz stones and scallop shells. The use of scallop shells might have been a nod to famous pilgrimage sites. These include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Camino de Santiago in Spain, where shells were often used as symbols.
