Nendrum Monastery

In Explore December 11, 2009, #373.

The website of the NIEA gives the following information about this site: "Nendrum is generally regarded as the best example of a pre-Norman monastic site in Northern Ireland that still has ruins from the original buildings. Thought to have been set-up by St Machaoi in the 5th century, it has also been linked to St Patrick in later sources.
The monastery consists of three round dry-stone walled enclosures, one within the other, with evidence of industrial work being carried on outside.The central enclosure has a church ruin with sundial, the remains of round tower and a graveyard. The middle enclosure contains remains of huts and workshops."
The ruins are on Mahee Island, the largest Island in Strangford Lough, and somewhat out of the way. This view shows the stump of the round tower that once dominated this site. We visited the place many times while living in Northern Ireland, but at least one time after reading to the children "The Bell of Nendrum" by J.S. Andrews, a children's book about the destruction of the monastery by the Vikings in 976 AD.