8. DHS - Inishkeel and St. Conal's bell
Aug 12, 2021, 06:04 PM
Shrine Eight: For whom the bell tolls.
Location: 54.845484, -8.450546
Speaker: Bart Whelan
Theme: gathering to pay homage on a tidal island.
The magical tidal island of Inishkeel is the seat of a pilgrimage in honour of St. Conal Cael, one of Ireland's early saints. According to the Genealogiae Regum et Sanctorum Hiberniae, St Conall was descended from the Cenél Conaill, one of the ruling families of Donegal. He was the son of a Maine or Caelmaine, who was a son of Cathair, son of Bogaine, son of Conall Gulban who was the founder of the kingdom of Tir Chonaill and the first nobleman to be baptised by St. Patrick.
It contains his church and his cell and in it repose his sacred remains in the grave under a large boulder, traditionally known as St Conal's bed. Near the site is St Conal's holy well, but gone is his famous iron bell, known as 'Bearnan Chonaill'. Long after his death, it was enshrined as a relic in an elaborate covering, and was worshipped by pilgrims visiting the island.
The bell is an early type made from a sheet of iron, its handle and loop for the clapper are missing. In the fifteenth century an ornate silver 'bell shrine' was made to protect and embellish the bell. This bell and its shrine, like most Irish reliquaries, were preserved by keepers who were the descendants of the stewards of monastic lands. Many like St Conal's bell were sold to collectors in the nineteenth century.
This relic of St. Conal remained in Ardara until 1844 and is now part of the British Museum collection. Relics associated with the early Irish saints were believed to hold miraculous powers and were much revered in the medieval church in Ireland. Oaths were sworn upon them and curses were cast using them. Water drank from ancient bells was believed to cure a wide variety of illnesses. The island is accessible on foot during low tide from Narin beach and despite missing its bell, is one of the highlights of any trip to Donegal as you walk out where the sea has parted.
URL: Donegal County Council's overview of the island, the bell and the saint.
Audio taken from Donegal's Hallowed Sites on the Racontour Archive.
Spotify URL: Donegal's Hallowed Sites playlist on Spotify
Location: 54.845484, -8.450546
Speaker: Bart Whelan
Theme: gathering to pay homage on a tidal island.
The magical tidal island of Inishkeel is the seat of a pilgrimage in honour of St. Conal Cael, one of Ireland's early saints. According to the Genealogiae Regum et Sanctorum Hiberniae, St Conall was descended from the Cenél Conaill, one of the ruling families of Donegal. He was the son of a Maine or Caelmaine, who was a son of Cathair, son of Bogaine, son of Conall Gulban who was the founder of the kingdom of Tir Chonaill and the first nobleman to be baptised by St. Patrick.
It contains his church and his cell and in it repose his sacred remains in the grave under a large boulder, traditionally known as St Conal's bed. Near the site is St Conal's holy well, but gone is his famous iron bell, known as 'Bearnan Chonaill'. Long after his death, it was enshrined as a relic in an elaborate covering, and was worshipped by pilgrims visiting the island.
The bell is an early type made from a sheet of iron, its handle and loop for the clapper are missing. In the fifteenth century an ornate silver 'bell shrine' was made to protect and embellish the bell. This bell and its shrine, like most Irish reliquaries, were preserved by keepers who were the descendants of the stewards of monastic lands. Many like St Conal's bell were sold to collectors in the nineteenth century.
This relic of St. Conal remained in Ardara until 1844 and is now part of the British Museum collection. Relics associated with the early Irish saints were believed to hold miraculous powers and were much revered in the medieval church in Ireland. Oaths were sworn upon them and curses were cast using them. Water drank from ancient bells was believed to cure a wide variety of illnesses. The island is accessible on foot during low tide from Narin beach and despite missing its bell, is one of the highlights of any trip to Donegal as you walk out where the sea has parted.
URL: Donegal County Council's overview of the island, the bell and the saint.
Audio taken from Donegal's Hallowed Sites on the Racontour Archive.
Spotify URL: Donegal's Hallowed Sites playlist on Spotify