Nendrum Monastery Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Nendrum Monastery
Monastery information
Mainistir Naondroma

Location in County Down Show map of County Down Location in Northern Ireland Show map of Northern Ireland Location in island of Ireland Show map of island of Ireland
Other names	Oendruim; Aonagh-urmuman; Oinach-urmuman; Nenddrum; Noindrum; Noendoma; Mahee Island
Order	Celtic monasticism Benedictine (from 1178)
Established	early 5th century?
Disestablished	between 974 and 1178
Diocese	Down and Connor (Catholic) Down and Dromore (Church of Ireland)
People
Founder(s)	Mochaoi:P
Architecture
Status	Inactive
Site
Location	Mahee Island, Strangford Lough, County Down
Coordinates	54°29′53″N 5°38′53″W / 54.498°N 5.648°W / 54.498; -5.648
Visible remains	round tower, ruined church, cashel, tide mill
Public access	Yes

Nendrum Monastery (which in Irish is Naondroim) was an old Christian monastery. It was built on Mahee Island in Strangford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland.

People believe it was started in the 5th century, but we are not completely sure. The monastery stopped being used between the years 974 and 1178. However, its church kept serving the local area until the 15th century. Today, you can still see some parts of the old monastery.

History of Nendrum Monastery
Archaeology at Nendrum
Features of the Monastery
Nendrum's Spiritual Use Today
Visiting Nendrum
Gallery
See also

History of Nendrum Monastery

The island monastery of Nendrum is thought to have been founded in the 5th century. A saint named Mochaoi started it. Mahee Island is actually named after him! Mochaoi was a special name for him, like a nickname. His real name was Caolán. People say that St. Patrick himself chose Mochaoi for this important job.

Scientists have used a method called dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to study a tide mill on the island. They found that this mill was built around the year 619. This makes it the oldest tide mill ever found anywhere in the world! The monastery site had many useful areas. These included orchards, gardens, fields for animals, and even a guest house.

William Reeves, a bishop, wrote about Nendrum's history. He noted that old records called annals say St Mochaoi died between 490 and 497. Reeves believed Nendrum was an important place for a bishop early on. The Annals of Tigernach and the Annals of Ulster both call Cronan (who died around 640) "bishop of Nendrum."

Nendrum is mentioned in different old writings, like the Annals of the Four Masters. These mentions go from the 7th century up to the year 974. In 974, the records say that "Sedna Ua Demain, Abbot of Nendrum, was consumed in his own house." This probably means Sedna was burned, maybe during a Viking attack. This is the last time Nendrum is mentioned in these old records.

Bishop Reeves thought that Vikings might have attacked and destroyed the monastery. Their ships were often in Strangford Lough. Later, in 1178, a person named John de Courcy gave the monastery's land to some English monks. These monks were Benedictines. They set up a small religious community on Mahee Island.

By 1306, Nendrum was being used as a local church. But in the 15th century, people left the site. They moved to a new church in the village of Tullynakill. The exact spot of Nendrum was then forgotten for a long time.

In 1844, William Reeves rediscovered it. He was looking for the church mentioned in the 1306 records. He found the remains of a round tower and knew he had found the old monastery.

Archaeology at Nendrum

Between 1922 and 1924, H. C. Lawlor dug up parts of the site. The things he found are now kept in the Ulster Museum. After his work, the site was repaired a lot.

In one rectangular building, about 30 slate tablets were found. These 'trial-pieces' had old Celtic designs on them. They are now in the Ulster Museum. A bell and a stone with runes (an old alphabet) were also found there.

Other parts of the site were dug up later. A. C. Thomas did some work in 1954. D. Waterman worked there in the 1960s. N. Brannon also excavated in 1979 and 1982. Lawlor's work was the first big dig at such a large church site. His methods might not be perfect by today's standards. But Nendrum is still very important to archaeologists. It is the only major site of its kind that has had its excavation reports published.

Features of the Monastery

Today, you can see the main parts of the monastery. These are three circular cashels, which are stone walls built without mortar. However, H. C. Lawlor rebuilt these walls a lot in the 1920s.

The middle cashel has the remains of a round tower. It also has a ruined church with a sun-dial and a graveyard. The second cashel has what people call a 'monastic school' or workshop. There are also other burial sites there.

The canonical sundial you see today was put back together from pieces. These pieces were found during the dig in 1924. This sundial is thought to be from around the year 900. It is one of only a few early medieval sundials known to exist. It is a tall stone pillar, about 190 cm high. It is 40 cm wide and 15 cm thick. The dial and pointer (gnomon) are at the top on one side. Because it was rebuilt, we don't know the exact original height of the pillar.

Nendrum's Spiritual Use Today

Nendrum is part of the United Parish of Killinchy, Kilmood and Tullynakill. The current leader of the parish, Rev. Dr. Stanley Gamble, is in charge of the ancient site.

Every year, on the Sunday after the summer solstice, the parish holds an outdoor service. This service takes place inside the walls of the old church. On June 25, 2017, the first Christening service happened at the site since the monastery closed down. Another yearly service is also held at the monastery. St. Mary's Parish, Comber, holds it on Palm Sunday each year.

Visiting Nendrum

Mahee Island is located within Strangford Lough. This body of water is a very beautiful area. It is called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

To get to the island, you drive on narrow roads and causeways. These lead from the A22 road, south of Comber. This is the road that goes towards Downpatrick.

A small house was built on the island in the early 1900s. It is now used as a visitor centre. The island is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm between Easter and September 30. From October to Easter, it is open on Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm.