Saint Macdara's Island
Island in County Galway, Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint Macdara's Island (Irish: Cruach na Cara)[2] is a small island off the coast of County Galway in Ireland on which stands a mediaeval Christian monastery and National Monument.[3][4]
Cruach na Cara | |
 Annual pilgrimage at tenth century church on Macdara's Island | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 6th century AD |
| Disestablished | Before 1100 |
| Diocese | Tuam |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Macdara |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Carna, County Galway, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53.304424°N 9.917318°W |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Saint Macdara's Island |
| Reference no. | 242[1] |
The island is located on a 60-acre (24.5 ha) granite mountain island off the coast of Connemara, 6 km (3.7 mi) west-southwest of Carna.[5][6]
Saint Sinach Macdara, patron saint of seafarers, is believed to have built a wooden church on the island in the sixth century.[7] It was replaced by the present stone building in the 10th century.[8] The roof stones were cut to mimic wood shingles.[9]
Local fishermen traditionally dipped their sails three times while passing the island.[10]
A wooden statue of the saint was paid special reverence by locals; in an act of iconoclasm the Archbishop of Tuam ordered it buried.[11]
Every 16 July on Féile Mhic Dara (Feast of Macdara) local people make a pilgrimage to the island for a mass and blessing of boats (including the famous Galway hookers).[12][13][14]
There is no pier on the island. Nine people drowned on a pilgrimage to the island during a storm in 1907. The roof on the island's church was restored in 1977. In addition to the church, there are three penitential stations consisting of cross slabs, and a holy well. There are also the ruins of a much later bothy around which animals were once raised.[12]
A stone church or oratory, probably a shrine for Macdara's remains. There are several cross slabs and an enclosure.[15]
The Irish postal service, An Post, released a series of definitive stamps between 1982 and 1986 depicting the tenth century Macdara's Church on the island. The five stamps were as follows:[12][16][17]
| Year | Colour | Value (pence) |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Green | 29p |
| 1983 | Black | 30p |
| 1985 | Ruby | 28p |
| 1985 | Blue | 37p |
| 1986 | Brown | 32p |
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