Confessional — Inishcaltra OR Holy Island

Listed as 'Potential site - name' in the RMP (1996) based on the OS map designation. Situated on a narrow shelf on an E-facing slope immediately NE of the ‘Saint’s Graveyard’ (CL029-009030-) on Inis Cealtra and standing at one time in a circular enclosure (CL029-009132-). Although named ‘Confessional’ on the OS 6-inch map it is not clear that this structure had a penitential use. A small ruined building (ext. dims. 3.1m E-W; 2.45m N-S) built of roughly coursed mortared walls surviving to 1.45m in height (max. T 0.65m). There is a plinth of different widths all around but widest at N (0.48m; H 0.25m) and there is stone paving at E and S. A doorway at E (Wth 0.57m) leads into the interior which is divided by two inclined flat standing stones. Two inclined square blocks occupy the corners at the W end of the building. These four stones occupy most of the floor space of the building. Excavation was conducted on this building and the surrounding area in the early 1970s. The upright stones in the building surrounded ‘a shallow cist-like construction of limestone flags’ (De Paor 2013, 37) and the 'confessional' was shown in its present form to date to around AD 1700. It had been rebuilt several times. This stone building appears to have replaced an earlier timber structure or shrine to the W (CL029-009134-) that was itself rebuilt several times. It may have been used as a reliquary. A recumbent cross-slab with a slot for an upright slab to the E were aligned with the confessional and the style suggests a tenth or eleventh-century date. Iniscealtra is a national monument in state care, no. 5. (Macalister 1916-17, 132) The following images are attached: CL029-009017-_01.jpg View from NE with St. Caimin's church and round tower in background. CL029-009017-_02.jpg View from SW. CL029-009017-_03.jpg View of interior ©Photographic Archive, National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 19 October 2015