Caher Island
| Caher Island Oileán na Cathrach |
||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Waters | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 53 ° 43 '3 " N , 10 ° 1' 38" W | |
|
||
| length | 1.2 km | |
| width | 600 m | |
| surface | 52 ha | |
| Highest elevation | 57 m | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
Caher Island ( Irish Oileán na Cathrach , also Cathair na Naomh - German city of saints ) is eight kilometers off the coast of Ireland in Clew Bay between the islands of Clare Island and Inishturk in County Mayo . The island is uninhabited, but every year on August 15th it is the destination of a Turas (a pilgrimage from Croagh Patrick to the island). It is also the location of an early Christian monastery with the remains of a chapel and a number of cross slabs in a fence.
The island appears to have been a hermitage of 7th century monks, possibly the successors of St. Colmán. Their presence is also remembered on the neighboring island of Inishbofin . One of the cross stones there is a rectangular sandstone block 43 cm high. It is decorated with a Latin cross . It is reminiscent of small cross stones that were found on the graves of Lindisfarne and Hartlepool .
On the only 500 m wide and 1.5 km long island there is a "holy spring", menhirs and two promontory forts close by , which indicate that Caher Island already had religious significance before Christianity. Today the island can be reached by boat (including excursions with the Galway Hooker ) from Inishturk . The area of the island is around 52 hectares. It reaches a height of 57 meters.