Monastic Remains
Round Tower, Scattery Island
The round tower on Scattery is ablut 40m high. It is believed to date from the time of St. Senan.
Round Tower, Scattery Island
Round Tower, Scattery Island
The round tower on Scattery is ablut 40m high. It is believed to date from the time of St. Senan.
The remains of a number of buildings can be found on Scattery. A great number of these buildings are connected to St. Senan.
Round Tower, Scattery Island On the island today rises a fine round tower, and near it, a cathedral, an oratory, Teampall Senain
and St Senan's Bed, and the church of Ard na nAingeal
.
Tempall Senain, Scattery Island
The remains of Tempall Senain on Scattery Island.
Ard na nAingeal Church, Scattery Island
The remains of Ard na nAingeal Church on Scattery Island. Tradition says that the Archangel Michael placed Senan on a flagstone here, before he was transported to fight the Cathach, or sea-monster. <br> <br> In the days before the Lighthouse was built on the island the river pilots would light fires on this high ground to help ships navigate.
The round tower is believed to date from the time of St. Senan. It is about 40m high and one of the tallest towers remaining in Ireland. Unusually for towers of this kind it has a doorway at ground level.
Click here
to take a look inside the round tower.
Inside Round Tower, Scattery Island
A view inside the round tower on Scattery Island.
Cathedral and Round Tower, Scattery Island, Co. Clare
Cathedral and round tower on Scattery Island. The more ancient parts of the Cathedral date from the seventh or eight century. The round tower is widely believed to have been built during St. Senan's time.
Cathedral and Round Tower, Scattery Island, Co. Clare
Cathedral and Round Tower, Scattery Island, Co. Clare
Cathedral and round tower on Scattery Island. The more ancient parts of the Cathedral date from the seventh or eight century. The round tower is widely believed to have been built during St. Senan's time.
The remains of a cathedral stand on the island. The oldest parts of the cathedral date from the 7th or 8th century making it over 1000 years old. Five feet to the north of the cathedral is a small oratory which is also very old. Teampall Senain and Ard na nAingeal are small churches. It is believed that St. Senan is buried in the small building next to Teampall Senain known as 'St. Senan's Bed'.
Other Buildings
Lighthouse, Scattery Island
The present lighthouse on Scattery Island opened in 1872. It replaced a simple iron framework which held a light and was destroyed in a storm just six months after construction.
Lighthouse, Scattery Island
Lighthouse, Scattery Island
The present lighthouse on Scattery Island opened in 1872. It replaced a simple iron framework which held a light and was destroyed in a storm just six months after construction.
A number of other interesting buildings remain on Scattery.
Work on a simple iron-frame lighthouse began in 1868. When it was destroyed in a storm it was decided to build a more robust stone lighthouse tower which was completed in 1872. A full-time keeper ran the lighthouse until 1933. A series of part-time attendents looked after the running of the lighthouse until 2002 when it was fully automated.
The Street
The main settlement on the island is known simply as 'The Street
'. Most of the houses were built between 1841 and 1861.
Aerial View of The Street, Scattery Island
An aerial view of The Street, the main settlement on Scattery Island.
The last islanders left for the mainland in 1978 and today the buildings on The Street lie empty. The remains of a castle dating from the 16th century can be seen not far from The Street.
The Battery, Scattery Island
The British government erected six caostal batteries along the southwest coast at the end of the 18th century. They feared a French invasion. One battery was built at the southern end of Scattery.
The Battery, Scattery Island
The Battery, Scattery Island
The British government erected six caostal batteries along the southwest coast at the end of the 18th century. They feared a French invasion. One battery was built at the southern end of Scattery.
Towards the end of the 18th century the British government feared that the Shannon Estuary could be used by the French as a point of entry for an invasion. Six batteries were built along the coast including one on Scattery. The remains of the battery are located on the southern end of the island.