Inishglora
| Native name: Inis Gluaire | |
|---|---|
A freshwater well on Inishglora
|
|
 Inishglora
|
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 54°12′36″N 10°07′41″W / 54.210°N 10.128°WCoordinates: 54°12′36″N 10°07′41″W / 54.210°N 10.128°W |
| Highest elevation | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | Mayo |
Inishglora (Irish: Inis Gluaire) is an island off the coast of the Mullet Peninsula in Erris, County Mayo in Ireland. It has some small neighbouring islands, known as Inishkeeragh. The island has been uninhabited since the early 20th century, but there are several ecclesiastical ruins on the island.
Inishglora is geologically similar to the neighbouring Inishkea Islands, and is composed of gneiss and schist, similar to the rest of Erris. The island is mainly covered with machair and white sand. The Inishkeas and Inishglora differ markedly geologically from Duvillaun which lies a short distance to their south. From the mainland, the first two islands shine white and green in the sunlight while Duvillaun (and its satellite islands) lives up to its name and appears a much duller colour with dark cliffs because it has the same geology as Achill, many miles to its south.
Inishglora is probably the best known of the islands off Erris as it is considered to be the holiest of all the islands. It lies north of the islands of Duvillaun and the two islands of the Inishkeas .
There are several archaeological remains on the island. The ruins of Saint Brendan's Church indicate that the original building was similar in style of Gallarus Oratory in County Kerry. There are the remains of two other churches also - Teampall na bhFear (Men's Church) and Teampall na mBan (Women's Church). The women's church may have been an early nunnery. Both are now ruins but date back just a few centuries and are more modern than Saint Brendan's Church. There are the remains of three beehive huts, the largest of which is known as Saint Brendan's cell. There are many superstitions about the religious relics on Inishglora. There is a well, known as Saint Brendan's Well. The superstition says that if a woman were to take water from it, the water would turn to blood and become full of worms. However, these rumours may have been invented to ensure that nuns and monks would not use the well as an illicit meeting place. Inishglora also has several early cross slabs and pillars.
...
Wikipedia