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Inishmurray Island
At 4 miles out in Donegal Bay, Inishmurray is a place monastery is said to have served the spiritual needs of
of remarkable tranquility and peace. It is said to the islanders of Inismurray until their final “evacuation”
have a purity of atmosphere that makes time stand still. in 1948. Though it had no church or priest, the ancient
Through the activities of two of Ireland’s most colorful site had served as a focus for the islanders prayers and
saints, St Molaise and St. Colmcille, the island has religious observances for centuries.
connections to Devenish Island and Iona in Scotland. Every year on the 15th of August a traditional pilgrimage
According to Michael Poynder, a major ley line crosses was undertaken to Inismurray Island called ‘The Big
through the island from Newgrange in Co. Meath. Station”. Having fasted from the previous midnight,
Here you can discover the 6th century remains of an pilgrims would walk barefoot beginning with rounds
early monastery attributed to St. Molaise- a saint more and prayers and visiting each station in turn, sun-wise
associated with Devenish Island in county Fermanagh. around the island.
He was visited by Colmcille following the battle of Cúl The Soiscéal Molaise or Gospel of Molaise and his statue
Dreimhne. Legend has it that when Colmcille came to are in the National Museum in Dublin. His bell and
the waters edge and had no boat to take him across to crisier are in private ownership in England.
the island he spread his cloak on the water and a dry An integral part of Irish heritage, Inishmurray speaks to
path opened before him for a safe crossing. Molaise’s us of Ireland’s Spiritual Golden Age.
judgement was to exile Colmcille to a place where he no Recalling Ireland’s pivotal role in world history as the
longer would see the hills of Ireland. After passing some “Land of Saints and Scholars”.
time on Inishmurray, Colmcille sailed north. The first Inishmurray Iisland can be accessed by boat in good
land from which he saw no sight of Ireland was Iona and weather by private arrangement.
it was there he stayed. Mullaghmore Village- 071 91 66124
The island is mentioned in the Annals as having been Rosses Point – 071 91 42391
subject to Viking raids in 807AD. According to Oral
tradition, the monks forsake the island in the 12th
century and it was no longer occupied henceforth. The
236 Inishmurray Island
At 4 miles out in Donegal Bay, Inishmurray is a place monastery is said to have served the spiritual needs of
of remarkable tranquility and peace. It is said to the islanders of Inismurray until their final “evacuation”
have a purity of atmosphere that makes time stand still. in 1948. Though it had no church or priest, the ancient
Through the activities of two of Ireland’s most colorful site had served as a focus for the islanders prayers and
saints, St Molaise and St. Colmcille, the island has religious observances for centuries.
connections to Devenish Island and Iona in Scotland. Every year on the 15th of August a traditional pilgrimage
According to Michael Poynder, a major ley line crosses was undertaken to Inismurray Island called ‘The Big
through the island from Newgrange in Co. Meath. Station”. Having fasted from the previous midnight,
Here you can discover the 6th century remains of an pilgrims would walk barefoot beginning with rounds
early monastery attributed to St. Molaise- a saint more and prayers and visiting each station in turn, sun-wise
associated with Devenish Island in county Fermanagh. around the island.
He was visited by Colmcille following the battle of Cúl The Soiscéal Molaise or Gospel of Molaise and his statue
Dreimhne. Legend has it that when Colmcille came to are in the National Museum in Dublin. His bell and
the waters edge and had no boat to take him across to crisier are in private ownership in England.
the island he spread his cloak on the water and a dry An integral part of Irish heritage, Inishmurray speaks to
path opened before him for a safe crossing. Molaise’s us of Ireland’s Spiritual Golden Age.
judgement was to exile Colmcille to a place where he no Recalling Ireland’s pivotal role in world history as the
longer would see the hills of Ireland. After passing some “Land of Saints and Scholars”.
time on Inishmurray, Colmcille sailed north. The first Inishmurray Iisland can be accessed by boat in good
land from which he saw no sight of Ireland was Iona and weather by private arrangement.
it was there he stayed. Mullaghmore Village- 071 91 66124
The island is mentioned in the Annals as having been Rosses Point – 071 91 42391
subject to Viking raids in 807AD. According to Oral
tradition, the monks forsake the island in the 12th
century and it was no longer occupied henceforth. The
236 Inishmurray Island
