Native name: Inis Cathaigh [1] | |
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Geography | |
Location | Shannon Estuary |
Coordinates | 52°36.45′N9°31.9′W / 52.60750°N 9.5317°W |
Area | 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi) |
Administration | |
Province | Munster |
County | Clare |
Demographics | |
Population | none (permanent) |
Pop. density | 0/km2 (0/sq mi) |
Reference no. | 10 |
Inis Cathaigh or Scattery Island (Irish : Inis Cathaigh) [1] is an island in the Shannon Estuary, Ireland, off the coast of Kilrush, County Clare. The island is home to a lighthouse, a ruined monastery associated with Saints Senan and Canir, an Irish round tower and the remains of an artillery battery. The last residents left in 1969. Most of the island is now owned by the Office of Public Works, who run a small visitor centre and carry out repairs and maintenance on the island; it was bought by Dúchas in 1991.The Irish name Inis Cathaigh was formerly anglicised Iniscathy, which later became Iniscattery and finally Scattery. [1]
Saint Senan was born at Magh Lacha, Kilrush, County Clare, ca. 488. [2] He founded the monastery of Inis Cathaigh, which became the seat of a bishopric, sometime between 535 and 540. At an early time the abbot-bishop of the monastery was deemed to have authority over what later became the dioceses of Killaloe, Limerick and Ardfert. [3] There are the remains of an oratory and house and of seven small churches or chapels, together with a round tower and a holy well. One of Senan's students was Aidan of Lindisfarne.
The legend of "St Senanus and the Lady", as told in Thomas Moore's lyric, is founded on the fact that no woman was allowed on Inis Cathaigh. Yet St Senan founded two convents for nuns, and was visiting one of them when he died. According to tradition, when St Cannera or Cainnear [4] died, she willed it that she should be buried near Senan. Senan is said to have refused, but gave in to her request because she was so stubborn. [5] To stay true to his own edicts, Senan waited until low tide to bury her in the intertidal zone, which was not officially part of the "island", thus fulfilling his sister's wish while not breaking his own rules. [2] St Senan died in 560 and was buried in the abbey church of Inis Cathaigh on 8 March, on which day his feast is observed.
The Vikings first raided Inis Cathaigh in 815, killing many of the monks. [6] The monastery was plundered repeatedly until the Vikings came to settle there themselves in the mid-tenth century. This, in turn, led to attacks by Irish kings. [7]
Inis Cathaigh was a part of the Norse Kingdom of Limerick, which included not only Limerick itself but also several other bases in western Ireland. Given its strategic location at the mouth of the Shannon estuary, it controlled all maritime traffic up the Shannon to Limerick. The Annals of Inisfallen record that during the 970s, Norse kings of Limerick were resident at Inis Cathaigh. [8] Ivar of Limerick, the last Norse king of the city, along with two of his sons, was slain on Inis Cathaigh by Brian Boru in 977.
After the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 a canonical diocese of Inis Cathaig (the spelling then current) was established. This was absorbed by the Diocese of Killaloe in 1189, [9] but was restored by Pope Innocent VI and continued as a separate see under Bishop Thomas (1358–68). In 1378 its possessions were divided, and the island remained a portion of the Diocese of Killaloe, being later merged into the parish of Kilrush. However, there is mention of an Englishman, John Grene, as Bishop of Inis Cathaig in 1467. [10]
Inis Cathaigh is now listed among the titular sees of the Catholic Church. [11]
Titular bishops of Inis Cathaigh: [12]
Scattery artillery battery, located on the south of Inis Cathaigh, was built during the Napoleonic Wars and is preserved quite well. The Shannon Estuary was one of three invasion places the French had considered along the west of Ireland. [13] As such, places along the estuary were considered for establishing a defence. Inis Cathaigh is one of six batteries in the estuary. [14] It was chosen on the proposal of defected French general Charles-François du Périer Dumouriez. [15] The battery forms a semi-circular D shape with a dry moat. Its main armament consisted of six 24-pounder long guns arranged along the length of the curved D. [14]
In 1842, after the salvaging the Windsor Castle, Inis Cathaigh was home to Shannon Estuary Pilots and their families. The primary families of the island were the Brennan, Melican, Scanlan, McMahon, Costelloe, Hehir, Moran, Crotty, and Griffin. [16] The river pilots were highly skilled mariners, using only native currachs (canvas boats) to reach incoming and outgoing ships.
The inhabitants of Inis Cathaigh appear to have escaped the deaths and emigration associated within Kilrush and most of Ireland during the Great Famine. The total population of the island including the soldiers, actually rose from 65 in 1841 to 99 in 1851 and to 139 in 1861. The number of houses in this period rose from nine in 1841 to 24 in 1861. The memorial inscriptions on the gravestones do not show any deaths of islanders during the period 1845 to 1850. It is thought that a combination of fishing, additional shipping due to famine exports to England, along with piloting provided good employment for the pilots and their families. [17]
The last residents left in 1969.
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Source: Central Statistics Office. "CNA17: Population by Off Shore Island, Sex and Year". CSO.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2016. |
See Annals of Inisfallen (AI)
County Clare is a county in the province of Munster in the Southern part of the republic of Ireland, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 127,938 at the 2022 census. The county seat and largest settlement is Ennis.
Kilrush is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is also the name of a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish in Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland. The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking community, until 1956.
Killaloe is a small town in east County Clare, Ireland. It lies on the River Shannon on the western bank of Lough Derg and is connected by Killaloe Bridge to the "twin town" of Ballina on the eastern bank of the lake.
Thomond, also known as the kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nenagh and its hinterland. The kingdom represented the core homeland of the Dál gCais people, although there were other Gaels in the area such as the Éile and Eóganachta, and even the Norse of Limerick. It existed from the collapse of the Kingdom of Munster in the 12th century as competition between the Ó Briain and the Mac Cárthaigh led to the schism between Thomond and Desmond. It continued to exist outside of the Anglo-Norman-controlled Lordship of Ireland until the 16th century.
Tuamgraney is a village in eastern County Clare in the west of Ireland and a civil parish by the same name. Situated a kilometre from the River Graney which flows into Lough Derg, it is an ancient settlement, noted for St Cronán's Church, said to be the oldest church in constant use in Ireland
Clonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Clonfert, County Galway in Ireland. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Clonfert and then one of three cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe, it is now one of five cathedrals in the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe.
Senán mac Geircinn was an Irish Christian minister. He was a resident of Munster and is important in Irish tradition, as founder of Inis Cathaigh and patron of the Corco Baiscinn and the Uí Fhidgeinte. He is listed among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.
Terryglass is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. The small town is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe,. Terryglass won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 1983 and 1997.
Kildysart, officially Killadysert, is a large village in County Clare, Ireland and a civil and Roman Catholic parish by the same name that surrounds the village.
Emly or Emlybeg is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.
Kilmihil is a village in the Barony of Clonderlaw, west County Clare, Ireland. It is also a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht; an Irish-speaking community; until 1956.
Ballynacally is a village and townland situated 16.7 km (10.4 mi) southwest of Ennis, on the R473 coast road to Kilrush in the civil parish of Kilchreest, County Clare, Ireland. It lies near the bank of the River Shannon.
Saint Conaire was an Irish holy woman who died in 530 AD. Originally from Bantry Bay in modern County Cork, she was an anchorite who lived in a self-imposed solitude and spiritual exile from society.
Coolmeen, formerly called Kilfiddane, is a Roman Catholic parish in County Clare, Ireland.
Inis Cealtra, also known in English as Inishcaltra or Holy Island, is an island off the western shore of Lough Derg in Ireland. Now uninhabited, it was once a monastic settlement. It has an Irish round tower, and the ruins of several small churches, as well as four high crosses and a holy well. Despite the lack of population, the cemetery on this island is still in use. Coffins and mourners are transported the short distance from County Clare in small boats. Boat trips can be taken from the harbour at Mountshannon. It is conserved by the East Clare Heritage Centre.
Kilkee, formerly Kilfearagh, is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe located in County Clare, Ireland. It lies on the Loop Head peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Shannon Estuary. The main settlement is the resort town of Kilkee. The parish contains many ruins, some dating to the early days of Christianity in Ireland.
The Bishop of Inis Cathaigh (Gaelic: Inis Cathaigh was the ordinary of the Pre-Reformation Irish Catholic episcopal see based at Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland. The diocese of Iniscathay was founded by Saint Patrick. Saint Senan is the first recorded incumbent. The last recorded incumbent was Aidh O'Beachain who died in 1188, after which his diocese was portioned between Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert.
Killimer, also known as Killimer and Knockerra, is a parish in County Clare and part of the Inis Cathaigh grouping of parishes within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.
Kilrush is a parish in County Clare and part of the Inis Cathaigh grouping of parishes within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.