St. Macdara's Island
| St. Macdara's Island Cruach na Cara |
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| Waters | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 53 ° 18 ′ 19 ″ N , 9 ° 55 ′ 10 ″ W | |
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| surface | 24.7 ha | |
| Highest elevation | 27 m | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
St. Macdara's Island ( Irish Cruach na Cara ) is a one and a half kilometers long and 27 m high island off the coast of Connemara in County Galway in Ireland .
An oratory and other early Christian relics ( Celtic cross and cross-slabs ) are located within an only partially preserved walling above a natural harbor on the southeastern coast of the island .
The one-room "Oratorio von Illaun" from the 6th century measures 4.5 × 3.4 m, is roofed with stone slabs, the two stone gable figures and the roof ridge were added in 1975. Opposite the doorway with a large stone lintel is a round-arched window opening in the east, where remains of plastering have also been preserved. A square window opening is in the south. The often polygonal stones consist of gray and pink granite , the bedrock of the island. The slightly pink hue is the result of the decay of the feldspar in the gray granite. The oratory, which is also shown on a postage stamp, consists mainly of fine-grained gray granite. The building shows strong lichen growth . It is classified as intact and is considered to be one of the best preserved early church buildings in Ireland.
Because St. MacDara is the patron saint of fishermen, there is no fishing on its festival, July 16, and sailors usually hoist their sails when they pass the island.
The island is uninhabited summer pasture for sheep and cattle .
Other Irish stone oratorios include: the Benan Temple on Inishmore Island in County Galway, the Gallarus Oratory and Killelton Oratory in County Kerry, and Temple Cronan in County Clare .
literature
- Archaeological Inventory of County Galway. Volume 1: Paul Gosling: West Galway (including Connemara and the Aran Islands). Stationery Office, Dublin 1993, ISBN 0-7076-0322-6 .