Church Island

Church Island, Lough Owel

Black and white photograph of ruins on Church Island

© Sean Magee

Church Island, Lough Owel
© Sean Magee

Church Island, Lough Owel

Black and white photograph of ruins on Church Island

© Sean Magee

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Church Island called Inis Mor, Insula Magna by the Irish-speaking people is the largest island in Lough Owel.

It holds the ruins of a church which belongs to the Parish of Mullingar and not to the Parish of Portloman. This church is completely surrounded by a cemetery and the last burial is believed to have taken place in the early 1800s.

The church was traditionally called St. Loman's Oratory. It was here tradition tells us that St. Loman lived on Alexandric herbs. This may have been the case as the plant smyrnium Olus-atrum commonly called Alexander's can be found on the island to this day.

There are three smaller islands called Srudarra Island, Lady's Island and Carrickphilbin Island marked on the O.S. Discovery Map.