Castle Island

Tradition tells us that one of the islands was a seat of Royalty. Tormey tells us that Castle Island became to King Diarmuid of Royal Meath. This followed the cursing of Tara by St Ruadhan and the subsequent cursing of Muircheartoch-Mar-MacEarca and Adashone by St Cairneach.

O'Donovan cites stories from the Life of St Aidus and from the Life of St Feichin which both support this claim.

He tells how St Aedus went to plead with King of Meath on the Island of Lake Lebein to plead for the life of a prisioner held the. However, the King had barred any one from ferrying a man of God across. This did not deter St Aedus and he walked across the water as if it was dry land. This miracle impressed the King so much that he immediately handed over his captive.

St Feichinn is said to have been approached by a leper who asked for food, drink and a devout nurse. St Feichinn brought him to the infirmary and the went " to the hall of King Dermot, the son of Aidus Slaine, who then dwelt on an island called Inis Locha Leibhíonn". There he asked the Queen if she would assist the leper on a pledge of eternal glory. The Queen consented and nursed the leper. This tale confimed the sanctity of the holy man and the piety of the Queen but it was to enter history as one of the miracles associated with St Feichin. The tale goes that the leper then disappeared leaving his staff with the Queen for St Feichin. When St Feichin returned, the staff had apparently been transposed into gold, which he used partially for his crozier and partially to purchase lands for the monks.

Castle Island also was the site of the discovery of the Bell of Lough Lene which, it is speculated, may have been a relic of St Feichin's.