St. Eanys Grave

At the SE end of Árainn/Inishmore in a large graveyard (GA119-020003-) in an area of shifting sands; associated with ‘Teaghlach Éinne’ (GA119-020001-). Named 'St. Eany's Grave' but not indicated on the OS 6-inch maps. It was most likely a leacht and was probably similar in construction to those which survive on Inis Meáin (see GA119-081002-) and Inis Óirr (see GA120-002007-, GA120-002008- and GA120-002009-). O’Flaherty recorded in 1684 that the stone laid over the grave was still to be seen but that by the mid-19th century it, together with the graves of 120 saints that were located to the NE of the church, was buried in the sand (O’Flanagan 1927, Vol. 3, 348-9, 351). No visible surface trace survives. However, during the course of excavations at the church in 1984 a setting of slabs, possibly marking a grave, was uncovered on the N side of the church. This feature may be one of the graves on the edge of the ancient graveyard (Manning 1985, 111). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 4 February 2016

St. Eanys Grave (Cill Éinne) is associated with a local saint, Eany, and is located within a larger graveyard on Inishmore, part of the Aran Islands. The site is linked to the "Teaghlach Éinne" (Family of Eany), suggesting a tradition of local veneration and possible early Christian settlement activity in the area.