Church (in ruins) — Beggerin Island

This is an early ecclesiastical site within an oval raised graveyard (dims c. 83m NW-SE; c. 20-46m NE-SW) defined by field banks and situated at the NE angle of what was the island of Begerin (dims c. 450m NE-SW: c. 150-200m NW-SE) in the tidal north slob of Wexford Harbour, but since the reclamation work of the mid-19th century it is now part of the reclaimed north slob. The church was founded by Bishop Ibar, or Iobhar, in the fifth century (Culleton 1999, 81-96). This saint was probably born in the Louth – Meath area and could have associations with many early Irish saints including St. Abán of Adamstown (WX031-023001-). His death is thought to have occurred c. 504-10, and his feastday was on the 23rd of April (Ó Riain 2011, 381-2). The monastery was plundered by Vikings in 819 together with nearby Ardcavan (WX038-006001-) (AFM vol. 1, 430-1), but it continued into the 10th century at least when the death of abbot Crunnmhael is recorded in 964 (Kinahan 1873, 435-6). There is contemporary evidence that it was a place of pilgrimage into the 1680s (Hore 1862 3a; 61) as there was a wooden statue of the saint at the church (Hore 1862-3b, 90). (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 6-10; Macalister 1920) This is a nave and chancel church (max. L 13.85m; Wth 6.7m) surviving to a H of c. 3m, except the chancel which is as wide as the nave but is almost completely destroyed. The destroyed entrance is in the W wall (T 0.9m) and there is a single undecorated light in the S wall of the nave. The chancel arch is destroyed but this wall may represent an attempt to foreshorten the church. There is a granite slab (dims 0.6m x 0.45m) with an incised cross within an incised rectangle (dims 0.2m x 0.15m) towards the E edge of the graveyard. A schist stone (H 0.77m; Wth 0.20m) with a circular head (diam. 0.32m) is now in the National Museum of Ireland. One side is plain but the other is decorated with a ringed cross of elaborate interlace in low relief. Viking influence and a tenth century date are ascribed to this stone (Harbison 1988, 62-3). A second schist stone (H c. 0.9m; max. Wth c. 0.23m; T 6cm) with a damaged circular head is in the Wexford County Museum, Enniscorthy. On one face is a cross in relief with a hollow triangular base and incised lines outlining the cross ring. The other side may have had a Maltese cross in a circle at the crux. Beneath this are two figurative panels. The upper is badly worn but has three figures. The lower has a single horseman. A ninth century date and a Cornish influence is suggested for this stone (ibid. 63-6). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 18 January 2013