Outlined — Inchbofin

The monastery on the island of Inchbofin [Inis Bó Finne), in Lough Ree, Co. Westmeath was founded by Moríog also known as St. Ríog/Ríoch or Doríog in the 5th century (Harbison 1970, 243; Ó Riain 2011, 497). Moríog was a nephew of St. Patrick and one of seven sons of Restitutus (Rhystud) of the Maca Baird (Lombards) and brother to Meal of Ardagh (Ó Riain 2011, 497). His feast day fell on the 1st of August. Located at the NE tip of this small island, are the ruins of Inchbofin [Inisbofin] "Abbey" (WM015-001----; National Monument No. 213) and graveyard (WM015-001001-) standing in the E quadrant of a monastic enclosure or cashel (int. dims. c. 55m E-W x c. 50m N-S) defined by a drystone wall with the remains of a second church (WM015-001002-) located 55m to the S of the monastic cashel (Swan 1988, 20; CUCAP AJN054-056; AVO030-031; BGI008-009; BDV055-056). In 1912 the monastic enclosure was described as being, ‘surrounded by an ancient cashel or enclosing wall of irregular shape. The wall of this enclosure north and west of the ruin is partly covered with bushes and brambles, but parts of the face can be seen built of large irregular blocks standing on a footing course, which projects 6 inches [0.15m]. Lumps of a substance resembling slag from a furnace have been found in the field west of the enclosure’ (Anon. 1912, 80th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland). The repairs on this monastic cashel that were carried out in 1912 were recorded as following; ’The cashel wall enclosing the site was repaired by raising it in height and making use of the loose stones found in and around the ruin’ (Anon. 1912, 80th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland). In 1917 Crawford recorded that '‘The monastic buildings were surrounded by a slightly-built cashel, or enclosing wall, of very irregular shape; this irregularity is probably due to enlargements of the boundary. North-west of the church the cashel wall acts as a fence, and is well preserved, though covered with bushes. The masonry is of large stones fitted to each other’ (Crawford 1917, 147). A building of unknown date has been built onto the external face of the cashel wall 18m to the SSW of the abbey church (WM015-001----). Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 January 2012