AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

Galway
High Island, Co. Galway (Georgina Scally)
Early medieval Ecclesiastical Enclosure
Grid Ref: L501572 (05010/25720)
SMR NO: GA021-026
Excavation Licence: 95E0124
Excavation Duration/Year: 1995-2002
Site Director: G. Scally (National Monuments and Historic Properties Service,
DoEHLG)
The site is an ecclesiastical settlement located on an island off the west coast of Co. Galway.
Traditionally the site is reputed to have been founded by St Feichin in the seventh century.
The excavation was initiated by J. White-Marshall and G. Rourke who had been engaged in a
survey of the island and its monastic remains since the early 1980's in advance of their
publication 'High Island An Irish monastery in the Atlantic, 2000'. Excavation in co-ordination
with specific conservation aims began in 1995 under the directorship of G. Scally and
continued each summer until 2002.
A number of stone-built domestic huts were identified around the monastic church (Fig. 154).
The largest and most easterly, Cell A, was thought to have functioned as the monastic
refectory, dating to the mid- late 11th century. The cell (2.7m x 2.8m) was built against the
east wall of the church enclosure wall and clearly post-dated it. A smaller cell, Cell B, located
toward the northeast of the site, was later in date. This cell (2.2m x 1.85m), with
surrounding annulus, was built within the thickness of the enclosing monastic wall during a
period when the wall, or at least the northern flank of the wall, was rebuilt and enlarged.
The cell is thought to date to around the 12th century.
In the western portion of the site, a number of roughly circular mounds of rubble were
located in the lee of the enclosing monastic wall. It is suggested that these are the remains
of at least three and possibly up to five bee--hive huts. Antiquarian records attest to several
small huts in this area and to the north-west. No excavation took place in these areas to
confirm the records.
In the northern portion of the site, a hitherto unknown sub-rectangular structure was found
during excavation abutting the exterior face of the monastic wall. This building was akin to a
lean-to type structure and was entered from the south, via a breach in the monastic wall that
never appeared to have been re-built. The function of this building is unknown but it is
suggested to be a late structure, dating to a period of re-occupation after the monastery had
been abandoned in the late 12/early 13th century.
A large rectangular shaped-building (thought to have functioned as a guest house) together
with smaller, ancillary structures (all unexcavated) were located at the main south-east
entrance to the monastery. The larger of two wall-chambers in the western flank of the
monastic wall were also excavated. No remains were found in side to suggest a use apart
from the commonly suggested functions of storage and shelter. The smaller chamber is
largely obscured by rubble and was not excavated.
Apart from the church and domestic structures, the entire excavated area of the monastery,
which encompassed the area east and north of the church as far as the monastic wall, was
composed of extensive paved areas, elaborate drainage and water collection features and
several small leachts? A small collection of finds and an extensive assemblage of c. 60
decorated cross-slabs were recovered. The monastery also had a highly developed system of
millraces and millponds feeding a horizontal mill set on the south-western cliff edge. Several
other structures of unknown date are scattered around the island.
Radiocarbon dates from a number of burials and other features show that the ecclesiastic site
was in use from 8th/9th century until the late 12th/early 13th century, with a period of reoccupation
some time after.
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