Inis Uasal · Lough Currane
Church Island
Inis Uasal, or "Island of the Nobles," was originally known as Church Island — a significant monastic site steeped in more than a thousand years of story.
The history
Founded by Saint Fionán
Founded by Saint Fionán (or Finian) around the 6th century, much of the surviving structure dates from the 11th to 13th centuries. Fionán became the patron saint of the Iveragh Peninsula, and his feast day is celebrated on the 16th of March. A 17th-century poem credits him with protecting the area from plague, and several holy wells in the region are dedicated to him.
Ruins that still stand
The island is home to the ruins of a Hiberno-Romanesque church, with its doorway still standing. The site also features cross slabs, one of them dedicated to a hermit named Anamchada, who died in 1057. A unique carving of a man playing an early fiddle — similar to figures at Santiago de Compostela — adds to the island's historical significance.
Fionán's Cell and the midwinter sun
At the opposite end of the island is Fionán's Cell, a beehive-shaped structure dating to a later period. A narrow passageway, recently discovered at the cell's southern end, aligns with the midwinter sunset, illuminating the interior. This suggests the monks may have woven older rituals into their architecture, adding another layer of spiritual meaning to the island.
Land on the island
Ask us about landing trips to Church Island on Lough Currane.