St. Gobnet's Church

St. Gobnet's Church
St. Gobnait's Church, An Teampall Beag, Kilgobnet
Cill Ghobnait
St. Gobnet's Church is located in Ireland
St. Gobnet's Church
St. Gobnet's Church
53°03′57″N 9°31′45″W / 53.065908°N 9.529201°W / 53.065908; -9.529201
LocationInisheer, County Galway
CountryIreland
DenominationPre-Reformation Catholic
History
Founded6th century
Founder(s)Gobnait
Architecture
Functional statusinactive
Years builtc. 1100[1]
Specifications
Materialslimestone
Administration
DioceseTuam
Designations
Official nameSt. Gobnet's Church
Reference no.41.05

St. Gobnet's Church is a medieval church and National Monument located on Inisheer, Ireland.[2][3]

Location

St. Gobnet's Church is located in the northern part of Inisheer, in the Aran Islands.[4]

History

The site is believed to have been in use since the 6th century. According to traditional tales, Saint Gobnait fled from County Clare to Inisheer to escape a family feud. Later, an angel appeared to her and told her to return to the mainland and go south until she saw nine white deer; she settled at Ballyvourney and built a religious community.[5] The remains of her beehive hut are said to be on Inisheer. The stone church was built in the 11th or 12th century.[6]

The church was excavated in 1980 by W. Walsh.[7]

Church

North window

A rectangular stone church. The remains of a beehive hut are visible; there are also two bullaun stones and three raised stone slabs.[8]

References

  1. ^ Guides, Knopf (25 September 2004). Ireland. Knopf. ISBN 9780375710735 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Irish Builder and Engineer". Howard MacGarvey & Sons. 25 September 1886 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Poole, Susan; Gallagher, Lyn (18 May 2000). Frommer's Ireland's Best-Loved Driving Tours. Wiley. ISBN 9780028638393 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Aer Arann Islands – Attractions of Inis Oírr". aerarannislands.ie.
  5. ^ "Inis Oírr – The Little Sister of the Aran Islands". 5 June 2015.
  6. ^ Irlanda – Nuove Guide Oro. Touring Editore. 25 September 2004. ISBN 9788836529872 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "470 « Excavations".
  8. ^ "Cill Ghobnait (11th Century Church) » Rothaí Inis Oírr – Inisheer Bike Hire".