Inchmacnerin Abbey


Inchmacnerin Abbey is a former monastery and National Monument located in Lough Key, Ireland.

Location

Inchmacnerin Abbey is located on Church Island, an island of 2.1 ha in the western part of Lough Key.

History

A monastic site existed on the island from the 6th century AD, supposedly founded by Columba. The name means "island of the sons of Éirín".
It was refounded as an Augustinian priory some time between 1140 and 1170. Some of the Annals of Loch Cé may have been written here, as well as at Holy Trinity Abbey located on the same lake.
It was dissolved c. 1569 and the land granted to William Taaffe in 1596.
The island was excavated in 2000, recovering parts of a stone church.