Nunnery (Site of) — Inis Gé Theas

Located in rough stone-strewn pasture in the SW half of Inishkea South. A broad bare rocky promontory juts to W. A grassed-over trackway, which leads to the 19th century village at the N end of the island, is c. 100m to E. A leacht, named Laghta Wirraid, is located adjacent to the road c. 170m to SE. Not shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; indicated on the 1921 edition as three conjoined rectangular walled enclosures, named ‘Nunnery (site of)’, adjoining the W side of a large rectangular field. The three conjoined rectangular walled enclosures are of unequal size and on a roughly N−S alignment. The northern-most of the three enclosures is a rectangular walled enclosure (c. 21m N−S; c. 23m E−W) defined by rubble walls (Wth 0.8m), which stand to a height of between 1.2-1.6m. A gap (Wth 1.6m) toward the N end of the W wall opens to the exterior. Relict cultivation ridges are visible in the N half of the enclosed space. A low partly sod-covered jumble of stones (3m N−S; 4m E−W) is piled against the wall in the NW corner, and in the SW quadrant there is a low concentration (2.6m N−S; 3-4m E−W) of stones, with a number of large prostrate slabs (L 1-1.6m; Wth 0.5m) tipping at different angles into the heap. A smaller rectangular walled enclosure (c. 14m E-W; 8m N−S) is subsumed into the SE quadrant of this enclosure. The S, W and N walls of the smaller rectangular space are low and poorly preserved; it shares the E wall of the larger enclosure. The S wall of the larger enclosure merges with the S wall of this smaller space but is not directly in line with it. A break in the E wall allows access from the exterior and a break in the W wall connects it with the interior of the larger enclosure which wraps around it at W and N. Within this space there is a worked stone, possible a rough-out for a quern stone. Another larger subrectangular walled enclosure (c. 30m N−S; c. 25m E-W at N, 19m at S), later in date than the other two, is appended to them at S. A gap (Wth 1.1m) at the N end of its E wall allows access from the exterior, but no gaps connect it with the two enclosures abutting it at N. Its enclosing walls (Wth 0.6-0.7m; H 1-1.2m) are more roughly built, and partly collapsed. Relict cultivation ridges are visible within this enclosure. A sod-covered stony rise (8m N-S; 2m E−W) abuts the wall in the SE corner. A large field outlined by remnants of a stone wall borders the E side of the three conjoined enclosures; it encloses distinct cultivation ridges. The nature of the religious foundation here remains a mystery. There is no reference to the site in documentary sources, and the physical remains are difficult to interpret; there are no architectural features, such as doorways, windows, cut or carved stones, to provide a clue as to date or function. In local tradition it is associated with Saint Kea. The enclosures have clearly been modified and used in the modern era for farming purposes. MA023-024----_01.JPG Viewed from W MA023-024----_02. JPG South enclosure viewed from S MA023-024----_03. JPG Large N enclosure viewed from W MA023-024----_04. JPG Concentration of stones in SW quadrant of large N enclosure, viewed from E MA023-024----_05. JPG Small enclosure in SE quadrant of large N enclosure, viewed from W MA023-024----_06. JPG Worked stone Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 20 December 2022