Caher Island

Caher Iceland (Irish Oileán na Cathrach, Cathair na Naomh also - " City of Saints " ) is located eight kilometers off the coast of Ireland in the Clew Bay between the islands of Iceland and Clare Inishturk in County Mayo. The island is uninhabited, but every year on August 15th goal of Turas ( a pilgrimage from Croagh Patrick to the island ). It also is the site of an early Christian monastery with the ruins of a chapel and a number of cross- slabs, in an enclosure.

The island seems to be a hermitage of monks of the 7th century, to be may have been the successors of St. Colman. At their presence Inishbofin is also remembered on the neighboring island. One of the local cross-stones is a rectangular block of sandstone from 43 cm height. It is decorated with a Latin cross. It is reminiscent of small cross-stones, which were found on the graves of Lindisfarne and Hartlepool.

At only 500 m wide and 1.5 km long island has a " Holy Spring ", menhirs and closely adjacent two Promontory Forts, indicating that Caher Iceland already had pre-Christian religious significance. The island is reached (even on excursions with the Galway Hooker ) of Inishturk by boat today. The area of ​​the island is about 52 acres. It reaches a height of 57 meters.