An island monastery, traditionally founded in the 5th century by St Machaoi. Documentary references from 7th-century until 976AD when the Abbot was burned in his house, perhaps a Viking raid. A small Benedictine cell was founded here in the late-12th century. Documented as a parish church in 1306, but abandoned for a mainland site at Tullynakill during the 15th century. The site was ‘lost’ until the mid-19th century when the eminent ecclesiastical historian William Reeves, searching for the churches recorded in 1306, visited the island to look at a ‘lime kiln’ which he recognised as the remains of a round tower.

Much restored following excavations in 1920’s, the monastery comprises three concentric dry-stone walled enclosures with evidence for industrial work outside, including tidal mill, also landing places. Central enclosure has church ruin with sun-dial, remains of round tower and graveyard, middle enclosure remains of huts and workshops, outer enclosure little known and only partly in state care.
A summer cottage and its driveway, built on the site in the early-20th century, has been retained for used as a visitor centre.

Finds from the 1920’s excavations are in the Ulster Museum.

audio-visual show and displays
guided tours
education opportunities

Travel: No public transport available to site.

Cars: small car park at the monument

Access: Entrance through a gate from the car park. Visitors move uphill through the enclosures, on stone paths and grass slopes, to the church and round tower. The visitor centre can be reached by pedestrians and wheelchair-users, up a sloping driveway from the road, through part of the middle enclosure, from which a small part of the monastery is accessible for wheelchairs.

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