Inishkeel

Inishkeel

Native name: Inis Caoil
Building at the south east end of Inishkeel
Inishkeel
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	54°50′51″N8°27′22″W / 54.84750°N 8.45611°W / 54.84750; -8.45611
Area	0.391 km2 (0.151 sq mi) [1]
Administration
Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	Donegal
Demographics
Population	0 (2011 [2] )

Inishkeel (Irish : Inis Caoil) ^[3] is a small tidal island and townland ^[1] off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The closest village on the mainland is Narin. The island is in a civil parish of the same name. ^[4]

Geography

The island is located in Gweebarra Bay around 250 m from the coast. A sandy tidal bank connects, with low tide, the island with the mainland. ^[3]

History

St Conall Cael's Bell

During the 6th century A.D. a small community of monks settled on the island. ^[5] Their religious leader was Saint Conall Cael, from whom the island later derived its name. During the following centuries Inishkeel was a traditional destination of pilgrimages. Remains of the church and the connected buildings as well as some carved stones can be seen on the island. ^[6] For its artistical and archeological importance the island was declared National Monument (code: DG064-003). ^[7] A bell known as St Conall Cael's Bell remained on Inishkeel up to the 19th century and was then acquired by the British Museum. ^[8]

Demography

A small community used to live on Inishkeel in the past, and in year 1841 23 inhabitants were registered on the island. ^[9] The island was later abandoned and in 2011 census had no inhabitants. ^[2]

References

Church ruins and a carved stone on the island

1. "Inishkeel Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Cóipcheart Townlands.ie. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
2. Population (Number) by Off Shore Island, Year and Sex Central Statistics Office
3. Liam Ronayne (2000). Donegal: South of the Gap. Dundurn. ISBN   9781900935159 . Retrieved 9 May 2016.
4. "Inis Caoil/Inishkeel". Placenames Database of Ireland . Retrieved 28 November 2024.
5. Meehan, Cary (2004). Sacred Ireland. Somerset: Gothic Image Publications. p. 116. ISBN   0 906362 43 1.
6. "Inishkeel Monastic Site". www.megalithicireland.com. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
7. National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship (PDF). National Monuments Service / Seirbhís na Séadcomharthaí Náisiúnta. 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
8. Rowena Loverance (2007). Christian Art. Harvard University Press. ISBN   9780674024793 . Retrieved 9 May 2016.
9. Commissioners 4th Rpt, p.15 Newport West E Division

See also

Media related to Inishkeel at Wikimedia Commons

• List of islands of Ireland
• List of National Monuments in County Donegal

• Ireland portal
• Islands portal