Inchmacnerin Abbey

Inchmacnerin Abbey^[1] (Irish: Mainistir Inis Mac nÉirín) is a former monastery and National Monument located in Lough Key, Ireland.^[2][3]

Inchmacnerin Abbey aerial view

Inchmacnerin Abbey

Inis Mac nEirinn
Jetties at Tawnytaskin, looking towards Church Island
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other names	Eas-mac-neire; Inis-mac-n-erin; Insula-Macnery; Insula-Machum; Inch-vicrinni
Order	Canons Regular (Augustinians)
Established	6th century
Disestablished	before 1596
Mother house	Arrouaise Abbey
Diocese	Elphin
People
Founder	Columba
Architecture
Status	inactive
Style	Norman
Site
Location	Church Island, Lough Key, County Roscommon
Coordinates	53.994501°N 8.260823°W / 53.994501; -8.260823
Public access	yes
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Inchmacnerin Abbey (Church Island)
Reference no.	556

Location

Inchmacnerin Abbey is located on Church Island, an island of 2.1 hectares (5.2 acres) in the western part of Lough Key.^[4]

History

A monastic site existed on the island from the 6th century AD, supposedly founded by Columba (Saint Colum Cille). The name means "island of the sons of Éirín".^{[citation needed]}

It was refounded as an Augustinian priory some time between 1140 and 1170.^[5] Some of the Annals of Loch Cé may have been written here, as well as at Holy Trinity Abbey located on the same lake.^[6][7]

It was dissolved c. 1569 and the land granted to William Taaffe in 1596.^{[citation needed]}

The island was excavated in 2000, recovering parts of a stone church.^[8]