inishbofin early christian monastery

The monastery was founded by St. Rioch around 530. It is mentioned in the Annals in 750, 809 and 916, and it was raided by the Munstermen in 115 and 1089. Two churches still remain. The more southerly church is a nave-and-chancel building with round-headed windows in the chancel, and a pointed door in the south wall of the nave. Near the north-eastern point of the island is the other church consisting of a nave, and a transept of almost equal size as well as a sacristy. To the north of the altar is a fine Romanesque window, and opposite it is a piscina which stands out from the wall. The transept is a later addition and has two 15th century windows, one with a bishop's head on the outside. The sacristy, which has a small chamber above it, is also a later addition. The church was surrounded by an irregularly shaped monastic wall. A piece of 10th century Viking bronze-work was found on the island which is possibly to be connected with a Viking raid on the island in 922.