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Scattery Island
Scattery Island is a small island in the Shannon Estuary just off Kilrush on the west coast of Ireland. It is about 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide and lies 1 mile offshore.
There is a fantastic history of Scattery Island to be found on the County Clare website. Click on the map to visit this website. There is a small visitors centre on the island and boat trips to the island are organised from the Scattery Island Centre at the marina in Kilrush. It takes about 25 minutes to reach Scattery and if you are lucky you may see the famous Shannon dolphins on the way.
If you are ever in the area Scattery is well worth a visit and don't forget Crotty's Pub in Kilrush town square. Traditional Irish hospitality, live Irish music and of coarse Guinness. Its where we stayed and it comes highly recommended.
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Copyright 2006-2013 P&J Platt. All rights reserved. |
There are no inhabitants on the island, the last
settler left in 1978. There was once a monastic settlement
created on Scattery in the 6th Century AD and the island
remained a religious settlement until the 16th century when
the monastery was demolished. Since then the island has
continued to be inhabited as a military guard post watching
the mouth of the River Shannon. Other recent inhabitants
were the keepers of the lighthouse which was built in 1866 and
then up to 1978 the island was home to the River Pilots,
talented oarsmen who would guide ships into the Shannon and on
to Limerick. Now, we hear you ask, why is all this of interest
to the Platts? Well the answer is simple and
intriguing. Jeanettes maiden name is of Irish origin, of
Scattery origin to be precise. You see, that monastery that
was set up in the 6th century was founded by a chap who later
became St. Senan. St. Senan is believed to have banished the
Cathach, a legendary sea serpent, from the island when he
first arrived. Having established the monastery he set about
preaching to and educating the local people. It is also
believed that while on the island St. Senan performed a number
of miracles. He died on March 8th 544 and this day remains his
patron day. So when Paul and Jeanette went to Scattery it was
to take Jeanette back to see her spiritual home and what a
fantastic and interesting place it is. The old ruined
cathedral, the Teampull Sheanain or Church of St. Senan, the
old houses and of course the 120ft high Round Tower. 
