What is recorded here

Architectural fragments from Ballinskelligs Abbey, including an ogee window head and doorway arches, now rest inside the Prior's House rather than standing in open baylight. They belonged to the Arroasian Canons of the Order of St Augustine, whose priory appeared on the west shore of Ballinskelligs Bay around 1210 after monks left the hazardous rock of Skellig Michael. Keeping these stones within a roofed house suggests they were valued enough to save from weather, sea and forgetting.

Ballinskelligs Abbey (KE097-036----) was the priory of the Arroasian Canons of the Order of St Augustine, located on the W shore of Ballinskelligs Bay. It was founded in 1210, or shortly afterwards, originating from Rattoo in north Kerry. It is recorded that the early monastery of Skellig Michael (KE104A-001----) was transferred, due to the hazardous conditions on the rock, to this location prior to the mid-eleventh century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 192; Smith 1756, 103). The priory retained possession of the Great Skellig and of the alias 'de Rupe Michaelis'. A number of architectural fragments from the priory are located for safe-keeping in the Prior's House. These include the head of an ogee window (KE097-036008-), several large drainage slabs and a number of arched sections of a doorway. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1085. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013

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