St. MacDara's Island facts for kids
| Cruach na Cara | |
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 6th century AD |
| Disestablished | before 1100 |
| Diocese | Tuam |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Macdara |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Carna, County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°18′16″N 9°55′02″W / 53.304424°N 9.917318°W |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | St. MacDara's Island Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site |
| Reference no. | 242 |
St. MacDara's Island is a special place off the coast of County Galway, Ireland. It's home to the ruins of an old monastery from the Middle Ages. It's also a protected National Monument, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Island Location
This island is about 60 acres (24.5 hectares) big. That's like 45 football fields! It's made of granite rock and sits off the coast of Connemara, near a village called Carna. You'll find it about 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) southwest of Carna.
A Look Back in Time
Building the First Church
Long, long ago, around the 500s, a saint named Macdara built a wooden church on this island. He was known as the patron saint of seafarers, which means he was seen as a special protector for sailors and fishermen.
The Stone Church
Later, in the 900s, a new church was built. This one was made of stone. The builders were very clever! They cut the stone roof to look just like wooden shingles.
Old Traditions
For many years, local fishermen had a special tradition. When their boats passed the island, they would dip their sails three times. This was a way to show respect to Saint Macdara.
There used to be a wooden statue of the saint that people greatly respected. However, the Archbishop of Tuam ordered it to be buried. This was part of a movement called iconoclasm, where religious images were destroyed or hidden.
Pilgrimage Day
Even today, people visit the island every year on July 16th. They come for a special church service and to have their boats blessed. This includes the famous Galway hookers, which are traditional Irish fishing boats. In the past, people also held special prayers on September 28th.
What You Can See Today
The main building on the island is a stone church, also called an oratory. It was likely a special place to honor Saint Macdara. You can also find several stone slabs with crosses carved into them. The whole area is surrounded by an enclosure, which shows where the monastery grounds were.
