inishkea north early monastery

The island is now only occasionally inhabited by fishermen, but in the Early Christian period is supported an apparently flourishing monastery. The most conspicuous thing on the island is the Bailey Mor, a large mound 500 feet in diameter, and 60 feet high, on which beehive huts and square houses were found. One of these houses contained an Early Christian cross-slab with the Crucifixion on it. some other cross-slabs have also been found. A great number of purpura shells came to light, with which the monks used to produce a blue dye for manuscript illumination, clothes dying etc. On the island there is also a rectangular church dedicated to St. Colmcille.