Hare Island: The Annals

Hare Island which belongs to the Barony of Kilkenny West and the parish of Bunowen is, geographically speaking, very close to Coosan Point. The ancient name for Hare Island was Inis Ainghin.The name 'Inis Ainghin' turns up in various annals (including the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Clonmacnoise) as well as in the Latin and Irish lives of St. Ciaran.

Hare Island map

Section of William Larkin's Survey of the County of Westmeath showing Hare Island in Lough Ree

Hare Island map

Hare Island map

Section of William Larkin's Survey of the County of Westmeath showing Hare Island in Lough Ree

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The Evidence of the Annals

In the Annals of the Four Masters it states that in 894 AD: "An army was led by the Connaughtmen into Westmeath, Inis Aingin was profaned and a man was mortally wounded in the middle of it, and the shrine of Ciaran there, and a synod of seniors, with Cairbre Crom, Bishop of Cluain-Mic-Nois. A victory was gained on the same day over the Connaughtmen, at Ath-Luain [Athlone], by [the men of] Westmeath, and a slaughter of heads left behind with them".

In the Annals of Clonmacnoise, under the year 1087, we find the following entry: "Munstermen brought a greater fleet on the river of Synann, and Loghrye & robbed and took spoyles of the churches upon the islands of the Lough, King of Connaught, seeing, hee caused to be stopped the foordes on the Synann called Adyrchreach and Rathkrae, to the end they should be at liberty to pass the said passages at their Returnes, and were driven to the turne to Athlone where they were overtaken by Donell Mcfflynn O'Melaghlin, King of Meath, to whose protection they wholly committed themselves and yielded all their shippes, barkes, boates and coyttes alsoe to be disposed off at his pleasure, which hee received and sent safe conduct with them until they were left in their native place in Mounster …"

The island was repeatedly plundered. According to the Annals raids took place in: 843, 894, 1087 and 1089. It would seem likely that the early monastery on the island continued on until the twelfth century. Gwynn and Hadock are of the opinion that it may have come under Augustinian rule some time after 1140.