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The
Augustinian Church and Norman Castle.
These are
situated on the Island. Only the west gable with the double belfry and a few
feet of the side walls of the church now remain. This church and the castle
would appear to have been built by de Lamporte, possibly on and adjacent to the
site of the monastery founded by St. Abban centuries before.
The ruin of the strong compact castle has an archway on the west side. On the
eastern side is the remains of a strong boundary wall which probably contained
the dwellings of the monks.
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On the north side of the castle stands the ruin of a barbican tower
which leans forward in a south-westerly direction. There is little more
than half of it remaining as much of it collapsed when the foundations
were disturbed.
The area around the church was a burial place for many years - some of
the oldest headstones show dates from the early eighteenth century -
that is within a century of the Cromwellian destruction of the church,
monastery and castle. |
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Shrine at the Mass Rock Cross of Shad and Mass Rock.
A
new cemetery was opened in 1931 beside the Cross of Shad. A short
distance to the left of the cemetery lie the remains of the Mass Rock on
which Mass was offered for a hundred years until 1760. Shad is the word
in old Forth (Yola) dialect for shed. This shed was erected to protect
the altar and priest during Mass. A plain silver chalice kept in the
present church is inscribed on its base with the words - 'Not to be
taken from the iland (sic) 1731'. It was probably used for Mass there. |
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Our
Lady's Well
Down
the road to the right of the Cross of Shad is sign pointing to the site
of the well known for generations as Our Lady's Well. Many cures have
been attributed to the water from the well. |
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St. Vaugh's Church
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The ruins of this church are situated
near Carnsore Point . Many unfortunate sailors who drowned off the coast
were laid to rest here.
Legend has it that the saint was wafted to Brittany on a floating
boulder which returned when it had delivered him to the Continent where
he died in 585 A.D. The stone is marked with a Chinese cross cut into
its side.
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Church of St. Ibar
The ruins of the church of St. Ibar ( Iberius or Ivor)are situated quite
close to Our Lady's Island on the road to Wexford. St. Ibar had
establish a monastery on Beg Erin, an island in the northern side of
Wexford Harbour, before the arrival of St. Patrick. He and his Nephew,
St. Abban are credited with preaching Christianity in this part of
Ireland. Beg Erin Monastery was attacked by raiding Vikings in the 9th
century. No longer an island, it was reclaimed from the sea in the 19th
century and now forms part of the North Slob at Ardcavan, outside
Wexford town. |
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