Ecclesiastical enclosure in 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. On this small island known as Inchbofin, 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 defined by a drystone wall with the remains of a second smaller nave and chancel church (WM015-001002-) located 120m to the S of the abbey church. This nave and chancel church is located inside a small graveyard (WM015-001005-) and both were recorded as standing inside a large monastic cashel or enclosure (WM015-001006-). In 1912 this church was described as being, ‘surrounded by a narrow graveyard (WM015-001005-) of rectangular shape, enclosed by the remains of an ancient cashel wall (WM015-001006-)’ (Anon 1912, 80th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland). This narrow rectangular shaped graveyard boundary wall is not indicated on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch but is indicated on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 January 2012