inishmurray early monastery

The monastery was founded by St. Molaise or Laisren in the early 6th century, and was plundered by the Vikings in 802. The old monastery is surrounded by a stone wall up to 13 feet high which has five entrances leading into the central area measuring 175 by 135 feet. It is not certain whether this wall existed before the monastery was founded or not. The central area is divided into 4 enclosures, the largest of which contains Teampull na bFhear (The Men's Church), a church with antae and with a flat-headed doorway. In the north-west corner is Teach Molaise, a small and more primitive church with a stone roof, flat-headed doorway and a round-headed east window. There is an equal-armed cross on the outside of the lintel-stone above the door; a wooden statue of St. Molaise which stood in the church has now been removed to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. Three square 'altars; with cross decorated stones and a number of pillar stones stand in the main enclosure also. In the north-western enclosure is Temapull na Teine (The Church of the Fire) and the 'school-house' - a beehive hut.