inishmacsaint island

Inishmacsaint Island also had a sixth century monastery one of the thousands that sprang up all over Ireland in the generation after St. Patrick's death. This one was founded in about 523 by St Ninnid who, like St Molaise, studied under St Finian at Clonard. The island has an ancient rath (prehistoric hillfort), a ruined twelfth century church, and a striking 14ft high cross (tenth century) with splayed arms and a broad shaft. It lacks the usual Celtic circle and looks as though the stone carver was called away before he could finish it.