Leacht in Inishmurray

Located immediately to E of Templemolaise church (SL001-001009-), within an ecclesiastical enclosure (SL011-011001-). This is a National Monument (no. 117) in state ownership. This drystone leacht measures 1.52 m east/west by 1.84 m north/south and is 0.7 m high. The sides are formed by well laid flat stones brought to course; the upper surface chiefly consists of larger flat slabs. There are several plain rounded beach cobbles on the surface. There was formerly a cross slab (L001-001022-); this is now in the Schoolhouse [OPW store]. On the south side is appended a low, regular bench, 0.55 m high and 0.35 m deep, also built with flat angular stones. The above description is derived from the results of a survey of the archaeological monuments on Inishmurray undertaken in 1997-1999 and published in: Jerry O’Sullivan and Tomás Ó Carragáin 2008 Inishmurrary. Monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. Cork. The Collins Press. Date of upload: 16 January 2018

Leacht in Inishmurray is associated with early Christian monastic activity on the island of Inishmurray, often linked to Saint Molaise, after whom the nearby Templemolaise church is named. Traditionally, such sites were considered places of prayer and pilgrimage, and the island itself has long been regarded as a holy or sacred place in Irish folklore.