St Patrick's Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Inis Pádraig
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 St Patrick's Island
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Irish Sea |
| Coordinates | 53°35′07.30″N 6°04′26.14″W / 53.5853611°N 6.0739278°W |
| Archipelago | Skerries |
| Administration | |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Dublin |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
St Patrick's Island (Irish: Inis Pádraig, meaning St Patrick's Island) is a small, quiet island off the coast of Skerries in County Dublin, Ireland. It's one of three islands in the area, and it's the furthest from the mainland. No one lives on St Patrick's Island.
This island has low cliffs and is about 1.5 kilometers (almost a mile) from the main coast. You'll find lots of grasses, brambles, and plants like hogweed growing there.
Contents
Nature and Wildlife
St Patrick's Island is super important for birds that nest near the sea. It's the best of the three islands for these breeding seabirds.
Bird Species
Some of the most common birds you might see here are:
- Cormorants
- Shags
- Herring Gulls
These birds come to the island to lay their eggs and raise their young.
A Glimpse into History
Something very important happened on St Patrick's Island a long, long time ago, in the year 1148.
The Synod of 1148
A special meeting called a synod took place on the island. A synod is like a big conference for church leaders. This one was led by two important figures:
- Gelasius, who was the Archbishop of Armagh.
- St. Malachy, a very respected church leader.
Many people attended this meeting. There were fifteen bishops, over two hundred priests, and lots of other church members. Their main goal was to make changes and improve the Irish church.
Historical Records
This important synod was written down in several old history books. These include:
- The Annals of the Four Masters
- The Annals of Inisfallen
- The Annals of Tigernach
These records help us learn about what happened on St Patrick's Island centuries ago.
