Scattery Island is one of the most fascinating places in all of Ireland to visit, and relatively few tourist make it there. The tiny island is on the Shannon River and was inhabited from 534 when St. Senan established a monastery there, until the last Islander left in 1978.
Even before St. Senan arrived, Scattery was a place famed in legend. Local people believed it was home to a terrifying monster called "The Cata" a sort of evil sea serpent, which may have given the Island its unusual name. Another theory is that the names derives from the Norse word Scatty, which means treasure, and dates to the time when the Vikings raided and ransacked the Monastery there.
On his arrival St. Senen established his credentials early by banishing the serpent without delay and commencing the building of a monastery. Several of the buildings on the Island date back to St. Senan's time, including the round tower - at 120 ft one of the highest in Ireland - but perhaps his most famous legacy is the name of the great river on which his monastery stood: The Shannon is named after him.
He died in 544 and was buried on the Island at a place now known as St. Senan's Bed. However his monastery continued to thrive for almost 3 centuries, becoming widely renowned for the austerity of the lives led by the monks there.
In 816 the Vikings raided Scattery, killing many monks and plundering the Monastery. they returned on several occasions afterwards, eventually establishing a settlement there. The location of the Island gave them easy river access to as far away as Limerick, where they held power on and off until the early 1100's, retreating to their Island when the local people periodically gained the upper hand.
By the 15th century the Normans had arrived in Ireland, and the Vikings had long departed. The O"Cahane family had taken possession of the Island and commenced work on a a small castle or tower house. Today this castle appears to be in ruins, but in fact it is an unfinished building, for reasons unknown work on it was never completed. However the O'Cahanes remained as one of the foremost families on the Island until the 20th century.
In 1588 Seven Spanish Armada ships sail into the Shannon and anchored in the harbour at Scattery. They were battered and wounded from battle and sought to repair and seek reprovisions for their vessels, but were not greeted with open arms. The island by this time housed a garrison of Queen Elizabeth's army and though the Spaniards offered locals a ships in return for help with repairs, they were refused, presumably because of fear of the potential repercussions. During their seven day stay, the Spaniard's were forced to abandon a particularly badly damaged ship, burning and then sinking it in the river.
The Shannon was always an artery of travel and with its easily navigable channel also a place where invaders could potential gain access to huge swathes of English held territory. It was this risk that led to the building of a series of coastal batteries, or defences, in the 18th century.
The remains of the battery stands still on the southern end of the Island, protected by a block house which also accommodated soldiers. The battery itself is a D shaped building surrounded by a moat and provided mounts for six large cannons pointing towards the rivers estuary. They were ready for an invasion - but it never came.
From the 15th century until it was finally abandoned in 1978, only 9 families lived on Scattery. Their lives always centered around the river and they traditionally provided river pilots who guided ships and boats on their journeys.
The Island is almost unique in Ireland as one of the few places where the population actually increased during the years of the famine, rising to a high of 141 people by 1881. Most of them lived at an area known simply as "The Street", of which only a few ruined houses now remain.
The islanders were a close knit people and had their own unique custom and culture. Best known is their unique approach to burying their dead. Most Irish graveyards are, and have always been, very well tended by local people and visited regularly, but this was not the case on Scattery. The jumble of disorganized gravestones still visible in and around Teampeall Na Marbh (The Church of the Dead) exists because the islanders only ever entered burials areas twice for each death. The first occasion was for the burial, after which the grave digger left their shovels lying crossed on the grave. The second visit was a month later, on an occasion known as "Flagging day" when the shovels were removed and a gravestone was erected.
It was believed that in the intervening time the departing soul resided in Purgatory. After the stone was erected, a bottle was broken over the grave and holy water scattered on it releasing its occupant to heaven. The grave was then never visited again.
I think that Scattery Island will be an interesting place to visit. I am hoping that we will get a chance to visit there. Looks like it will make for a great photo opportunity!! It seems as if the time is going so slowly. As I sit here today writting this we still have 155 days to go!!! UGH.... Seems like it will never get here. But I am sure that when it finally does it will go by quickly! lol wont that just figure! Well gonna have to start doing some research on what to write about next. If anyone has an idea or suggestion on something you would like ot hear about let me know and I would be happy to write about it! Heck, I would be happy to even add it to our list of places to see :-)
Well kiddies....until the next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment