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County Clare: A History and Topography 1837 by Samuel Lewis |
Inniscattery
An island, locally situated off the shore of the parish
of Kilrush, barony of Moyarta, county of Clare, and province of Munster,
but considered to form a part of the parish of St. Mary, Limerick ; the
population is returned with Kilrush. This island, which is situated near
the mouth of the river Shannon, about two miles from the shore, was anciently
called Inis-Cathay and Cathiana, and was one of the most celebrated places
of religious resort during the earlier ages of Christianity in Ireland.
A monastery was founded here in the sixth century, according to some writers
by St. Senan, and according to others by St. Patrick, who placed it under
the superintendence of that saint. Great numbers of monks are said to
have come from Rome to this place, and to have placed themselves under
the protection of St. Senan, who erected seven churches on the island
for this community, which lived in such seclusion and austerity that no
female was permitted to land on the island : the superiors have been styled
indifferently abbots or bishops. In 538, St. Kieran is said to have left
the island of Arran and to have become an inmate of this monastery, of
which he was made Providore. St. Senan died in 544, and was buried in
the abbey, where a monument was erected to his memory ; and in 580 St.
Aidan was bishop of Inniscathay. The island was plundered in 816 by the
Danes, who put many of the monks to the sword and defaced the monument
of St. Senan ; and in 835 they again landed here and destroyed the monastery.
Early in the 10th century, Flaithbeartach, abbot of this place, was elected
King of Munster ; and in 950 the Danes had gained such ascendancy in this
part of Ireland, as to make the island a permanent depot. In 975, many
of these invaders having taken shelter here, were driven out with the
loss of 500 of their number by Brien Boroimhe, King of Munster, and Domnhall,
King of Jonnahainein. The island was again plundered by the Danes of Dublin,
headed by Diarmuid Mac Maoilnamba, but they were overtaken and defeated
by Donogh, son of Brien. In 1176 the abbey was plundered by the Danes
of Limerick ; and three years afterwards, the whole island was laid waste
by William Hoel, an English knight, who destroyed even the churches. Soon
after the death of Aid OBeachain, Bishop of Inniscathay, the diocese
of which this island was the seat was either united to that of Limerick,
or divided among those of Limerick, Killaloe, and Ardfert. The monastery,
notwithstanding the calamities it had suffered, subsisted till the dissolution,
and in 1583 was granted by Queen Elizabeth to the mayor and citizens of
Limerick. County Clare A History and Topography
by Samuel Lewis |
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