Inishkeel

Inishkeel

Native name: Inis Caoil
File:Building at SE end of Inishkeel Island - geograph.org.uk - 1161356.jpg Building at SE end of Inishkeel
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates
Area
Country
Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	Donegal
Demographics
Population	0 (as of 2011)

Inishkeel (Irish: Inis Caoil) is a small island and a townland off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The closest village on the mainland is Narin.

Geography

The island is located in Gweebarra Bay around 250 m from the coast. A sandy tidal bank connects, with low tide, the island with the mainland.

History

File:St Conall's Bell.jpg

St Conall Cael's Bell

During VI century A.D. a small community of monks settled on the island. Their religious leader was Saint Conall Cael, from whom the island later derived its name. During the following centuries Inishkeel was a traditional destination of pilgrimages. Remains of the church and the connected buildings as well as some carved stones can be seen on the island. For its artistical and archeological importance the island was declared National Monument (code: DG064-003). A bell known as St Conall Cael's Bell remained on Inishkeel up to the XIX century and was then acquired by the British Museum.

Demography

A small community used to live on Inishkeel in the past, and in year 1841 23 inhabitants were registered on the island. The island was later abandoned and in 2011 census had no inhabitants.

References

Church ruins and a carved stone on the island

See also

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• List of islands of Ireland
• List of National Monuments in County Donegal