Another wonderful monastery on another wonderful island, this time Church Island in Lough Currane near Waterville Co Kerry. This is to be distinguished from Church Island in Valentia Harbour, and for that matter various other Church Islands aroud the country. Another St Fionan/Finian too, this one distiguished by the epithet Cam meaning ‘with a squint’. That however does not solve the problem of other Fionan, Finnans etc. The lake is very popular with fishermen and so it is quite easy to get someone to get you out there. The island as usual is very peaceful not least in the setting of the Hills of Killarney. Though the sea is very close the Lough protects the island. St Fionan may be buried there.
At one end the island is where the monastery was built. It has a stone church and many crosses. At the end of the island is St Fionan’s sturdy cell, even roomy at 15’x 16’, altogether a splendid sight though one does not realise it has lost its roof till you step inside.
