What is recorded here

Clochan in Illauntannig is a small Early Christian settlement on the largest of the Magharee Islands, enclosed by a strong cashel wall and still holding bee-hive huts, oratories, leachts and a burial ground. The island sits off the northern tip of the Dingle Peninsula, between Brandon Bay and Tralee Bay, where the sea would have closed the place around itself like a chamber. Its stones suggest worship, work and death all kept inside one tight margin, while the huts and passage hint that people still moved through the dark with purpose.

National Monument No. 67. Illauntannig is the largest of the Magharee Islands which lie off the N tip of the peninsula that separates Brandon Bay and Tralee Bay. The Early Christian settlement KE019-002001- is enclosed by a strong cashel wall and is comprised of 2 small oratories, 3 bee-hive huts, a Man-made underground passage and wall-chamber, 3 leachts, a burial ground and a stone cross. Three cross-slabs, a bullaun stone, a hand-bell and fragments of 5 quern-stones have also been discovered within the enclosure and a 2nd bullaun stone lies at the edge of the sea about 100m to S. The hut-site, old field walls and reputed cross-inscribed boulder on Reennafardarrig may also be related to this early settlement. Clochauns: The 3 circular huts in the interior are of drystone, corbelled construction but now lack their roofs. (KE019-002014-) abuts the cashel wall at SW, is 3.15m in diameter internally and the wall stands to a maximum height of 2.6m. The NE facing doorway is 1.25m long, 1.25m high and is roofed by 3 flat slabs. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 843. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

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