Trinity Island

Trinity Island lies in the southern part of Lough Key, a short way from the forest park. Its abbey of the Holy Trinity was founded about 1215 by Clarus Mac Máilin for the Premonstratensian canons, the White Canons, and in 1228 monks from Boyle joined them, bringing the manuscripts that grew into the Annals of Loch Cé, one of the great chronicles of medieval Connacht. The canons held on until the abbey was confiscated in 1608. The plain nave-and-chancel church still stands, and Sir Conyers Clifford, the English commander killed at the Battle of the Curlews in 1599, is buried in its south wall. The ruin is a National Monument in State care and an unguided site. We found no public landing place, so plan to see it from the water, ideally on a calm day when you can drift slowly along the shore.