Church Island (Lough Currane)
{{Short description|Medieval monastery in Lough Currane, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox monastery
|name= Church Island
|other_names=
| native_name = Oileán an Teampaill{{cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/1394108x|title=Oileán an Teampaill/Church Island|website=Logainm.ie}}
| native_name_lang = gax
| image = ChurchIslandMonasticSite LoughCurrane StFinianChapel.jpg
|caption =
|founder= Fionán Cam
|established= 6th century AD
|disestablished=
|diocese= Kerry
| status = ruined
| style = Romanesque
|people=
|location= Lough Currane, County Kerry
|coordinates = {{coord|51.834893|-10.129270|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = Ireland
| public_access = yes
|website =
| remains =
| embedded = {{Infobox designation list
| embed =yes
| designation2 = National Monument of Ireland
| designation2_offname = Church Island (Lough Currane) Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site{{cite web | url=https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-kerry.pdf | title=National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship | date=4 March 2009 | publisher=National Monuments Service | location=Ireland | accessdate=12 May 2021 }}
| designation2_number = 60
}}}}
Church Island is a medieval Christian monastery and National Monument located in Lough Currane, Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r30HAAAAQAAJ&q=%22Church+Island%22+%22Lough+Currane%22&pg=PA205|title=Guide through Ireland|first=James Fraser (of|last=Dublin.)|date=9 March 2018|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3EsOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Church+Island%22+%22Lough+Currane%22|title=The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland|first=Royal Society of Antiquaries of|last=Ireland|date=9 March 2018|publisher=The Society|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5A8HAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Church+Island%22+%22Lough+Currane%22|title=The Irish Digest|date=9 March 1963|publisher=Irish Digest|via=Google Books}}
Location
Church Island is located on a {{Convert|1.8|ha|abbr=on}} island in Lough Currane, {{Convert|2.8|km|abbr=on}} east of Waterville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.activeme.ie/guides/attractions-2/church-island-lough-currane-waterville-kerry-ireland-things-to-see-and-do/|title=Church Island, Lough Currane, Waterville, Kerry, Ireland - Things to See and do | Location | Activeme.ie|date=5 November 2013}} It is also known as Inis Uasail ("Upper Island").{{cite web|url=http://www.mypois.ie/mpoi.php?n=church-island&i=153128|title=Church Island in Lough Currane, Co. Kerry - Map, Locate, Directions, Contact|first=eDynamics|last=Ltd.|website=mypois.ie}}
History
File:House of St. Finan Cam on Church Island Lough Currane, Co. Kerry.png
File:Church-island-fiddle.jpg or fiddle, 11th century)]]
File:In splendid isolation (44390803294).jpg's cell on Church Island, photographed in 1865.]]
The monastery on Lough Currane claims its foundation from Saint Fionán Cam (6th century AD).{{cite web|url=http://www.theringofkerry.com/church-island|title=Church Island|first=Mike|last=Daly}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSMOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Church+Island%22+%22Lough+Currane%22|title=The Iveragh Peninsula: a cultural atlas of the Ring of Kerry|first1=John|last1=Crowley|first2=John|last2=Sheehan|date=9 March 2018|publisher=Cork University Press|isbn=9781859184301|via=Google Books}}
The oak church (dairthech) was replaced in the 12th century by a Romanesque stone building, some of which survives.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCMZBQAAQBAJ&q=%22Church+Island%22+%22Lough+Currane%22&pg=PA80|title=The Church of Ireland in Co Kerry|first=J. A.|last=Murphy|date=29 January 2012 |publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781471080258|via=Google Books}}
Description
There is a stone church, a clochán (perhaps a hospitium) and two further cells for other monks. There are three altars, 11 cross slabs and pillar stones.{{cite web|url=http://www.earlychristianireland.net/Counties/kerry/church_island_LC/|title=Church island lough currane (also called termons), County Kerry|website=www.earlychristianireland.net}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/journal10irelgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/journal10irelgoog/page/n300 253]|quote=Church Island Lough Currane.|title=Journal|year=1855|first=Royal Society of Antiquaries of|last=Ireland|via=Internet Archive}}
File:Church island Cross, Co Kerry.jpg
The church contains a relief carving of a musician playing a lyre.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRjFBdR3cLgC&q=%22Church+Island%22+%22Lough+Currane%22&pg=PA211|title=Early Medieval Munster: Archaeology, History and Society|first1=Michael A.|last1=Monk|first2=John|last2=Sheehan|date=9 March 1998|publisher=Cork University Press|isbn=9781859181072|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/video/lifestyle/the-islands-of-ireland-monastic-musical-and-magical-church-island-459132.html|title=The Islands of Ireland: Monastic, musical and magical Church Island|date=18 September 2017}}