St. Gobnet's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Gobnet's Church |
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| St. Gobnait's Church, An Teampall Beag, Kilgobnet | |
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Cill Ghobnait
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 St. Gobnet's Church
Location in Ireland
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| 53°03′57″N 9°31′45″W / 53.065908°N 9.529201°W | |
| Location | Inisheer, County Galway |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 6th century |
| Founder(s) | Gobnait |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Years built | c. 1100 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Tuam |
St. Gobnet's Church is an old church on Inisheer Island, Ireland. It is a special place called a National Monument. This means it is protected because of its history.
Contents
Where is St. Gobnet's Church?
This historic church is found on the northern side of Inisheer. Inisheer is one of the beautiful Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland.
The Story of St. Gobnet's Church
Early Beginnings
People believe this site has been used since the 6th century. That's a very long time ago! The stone church you see today was built much later. It was constructed around the 11th or 12th century.
Saint Gobnait's Legend
Traditional stories tell us about Saint Gobnait. She was a holy woman who lived a long time ago. The legend says she left County Clare to escape a family problem. She traveled to Inisheer to find peace.
Later, an angel appeared to her. The angel told her to go back to the mainland. She was to travel south until she saw nine white deer. Saint Gobnait followed these instructions. She settled in a place called Ballyvourney. There, she started a religious community.
What Remains on Inisheer
Even though Saint Gobnait left, her memory stayed on Inisheer. People say the remains of her beehive hut are still there. A beehive hut is a small, round stone shelter. It looks a bit like a beehive.
Discoveries at the Site
In 1980, an archaeologist named W. Walsh explored the church. He carefully dug up parts of the site. This helped people learn more about its past.
What the Church Looks Like
St. Gobnet's Church is a rectangular building. It is made from strong stone. You can still see the remains of the beehive hut nearby. There are also two special stones called bullaun stones. These stones have bowl-shaped hollows. No one is quite sure what they were used for. You can also find three raised stone slabs at the site.
This old church is a fascinating place. It connects us to ancient Irish history and legends.
