monastery sligo

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...

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...