Innisfallen Island

Innisfallen Island sits in the middle of Lough Leane, a short boat ride from Ross Castle. It is one of the most evocative places in Kerry — an island of ancient woodland with the ruins of a monastery that was founded in the 7th century and remained an active centre of learning and religious life for over 600 years. The Annals of Innisfallen, one of the most important surviving documents of early Irish history, were written here.

The monastery

The monastery on Innisfallen was founded in the 7th century, traditionally attributed to St Finian the Leper. It became one of the most important centres of learning in Munster — Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, is said to have been educated here as a boy. The remains visible today include a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century and an earlier oratory, both set in dense woodland that gives the island an atmosphere of complete seclusion.

The Annals of Innisfallen

The Annals of Innisfallen are a chronicle of Irish history written by monks on the island between approximately 900 and 1320 AD. They are one of the earliest and most important surviving annals in Ireland, recording events from the earliest times through to the medieval period. The original manuscript survived the dissolution of the monastery and is now held in the Bodleian Library in Oxford — a fact that still rankles in Kerry.

Visiting the island

Innisfallen is reached by rowing boat hired from Ross Castle — a short row across the lake to the island. The boats are available seasonally and the crossing takes about 15 minutes. The island is small enough to walk around in an hour, and the combination of ancient ruins, woodland and lake views makes it one of the most atmospheric places in Kerry. No facilities on the island — bring what you need.

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Practical information