Inishkea Islands
| Inishkea Islands | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Waters | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 54 ° 8 ′ N , 10 ° 12 ′ W | |
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| Number of islands | 8th | |
| Main island | Inishkea North and Inishkea South | |
| Total land area | 4.48 km² | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
The Inishkea Islands ( English Inishkea Islands , Irish Insí Gé - "goose islands") are an archipelago of two large and several small, now uninhabited islands in the Atlantic off the Mullet Peninsula in County Mayo in Ireland .
The North ( Inishkea North , Inis Gé Thuaidh ) and South Island ( Inishkea South , Inis Gé Theas ) as the main islands are only about two square kilometers in size. There are also some much smaller rocks. The islands' figureheads are their diverse and rare fauna (85 species live or winter here) and flora (200 species, many endemic), their scenic charm and the heritage of archaeological sites.
Islands
- Inishkea North ( Inis Gé Thuaidh , 2.07 km²)
- Inishkea South ( Inis Gé Theas , 1.84 km²)
- Carricknaweelion ( Carraig na bhFaoileán , 0.23 km²)
- Carrickaport ( Carraig an Phoirt , 0.14 km²)
- Carrickawilt Island ( Carraig an Mhoilt , 0.07 km²)
- Carrickmoylenacurhoga ( Carraig Bhéal na gCaróg , 0.07 km²)
- Carrigee ( Carraig Aodha , 0.04 km²)
- Rusheen Island ( An Roisín , 0.02 km²)
Inishkea North
On the North Island are the ruins of a monastery ( St. Columbkille's Church , Teampall Cholm Cille ), which existed between the 6th and 10th centuries and is associated with St. Colum Cille .
On the northeast side there are some megalithic structures and some of the best preserved cross plates and monasteries and settlements from this time as the oldest evidence of settlement .
Bailey Mór (160 m long and 20 m high), Bailey Dóighte and Bailey Beag , are three large dunes on the east side of the North Island. Bailey Mór excavation brought the remains of a settlement with floor plans of buildings and beehive huts . Clusters of shells from purple snails indicate that the monks made “blue ink” here to color their books and manuscripts.
Inishkea South
There are many cross stones on Inishkea South . One of them shows a crucifixion. About 20 differently designed cross stones date from the 7th and 8th centuries. To the north of the port there is a stone with a cross inscription at the intersection of two stone circles .
See also
literature
- Brian Dornan: Mayo's Lost Islands - The Inishkeas - Four Courts Press - 2000