 |
 |
Isle of Iona |
 |
 |
Take
the ferry from Oban on the west coast, either
vehicle or foot, to the Craignure on the Island of Mull. Drive or
take a bus along the south coast of Mull to the
Iona ferry terminal at Fionnphort, where you may park. Take
the foot ferry to Iona; there are no cars
allowed on Iona except for those of residents. They
aren't needed.
Website |
|
| There are four sites where
monuments can be found on Iona: the restored
Abbey and its outbuildings (left), the ruined
Nunnery (near right), St Oram's chapel (far
right) and the ancient graveyard - the
Reiglig Odhrain - some of which can be seen
in this latter photograph. |
 |
The
Reiglig Odrain is,
by tradition, said to be the burial
place of some sixy kings and chieftains;
these include Egfrith of Northumbria
(685) [ref: Symeon of Durham], Kenneth
mac-Alpin, king of Scots (858) [ref:
Chronicle of the Kings], Duncan (killed
in battle by Macbeth 1040) [ibid],
Macbeth (killed by Malcom) [ibid] as well
as other Scots, Irish and Scandanavian
kings. However there are
unfortunately no monuments to any of
these,and you will be as dissappointed
as Dr Johnson should you seek them.
Several of the medieval monuments have been
moved for protection to the Abbey
museum. |
 |
 |
On the left are
two 20th century monuments in the Reilig
Odhrain: the simple granite stone to
Bill Amos, the master
mason responsible for the rebuilding of
the Abbey living quarters for the Iona
Community; and below this the stone to
the Rt Hon John Smith MP,
the former leader of the Labour Party.
On the right with the island of Mull in
the background is the 19th century
monuments to several mariners who
drowned following a shipwreck on the
coast of Iona. The sound between the two
islands can be deceptively dangerous. |
| |
|
|
|
St
Oram's Chapel has a few
flat stones, most of the monuments
having been moved to the Abbey museum. |
|
| The
Nunnery has a series of
worn slabs with crosses outside. |
|
|
The Abbey |
 |
 |
| The Abbey
Cloisters. There are a series of
carved stones - some very worn -
now set against the walls. |
Nave
Prior Cristinus MacGillescoil.
Returned to Iona from
Kilvickeon, Mull, where it had
been taken after the
Reformation. Latin
inscription: Here lies
Brother Cristinus MacGillescoil,
sometime Prior of Iona, on whose
soul may God have mercy. |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Two effigies in the chancel. |
|
Abbot John MacKinnon.
Abbot 1467-1498. Latin
inscription: Here lies John
MacKinnon, Abbot of Iona who
died in the year of Our Lord
15--, on whose soul may the Lord
Most High have mercy,
amen. |
Abbot Dominic.
(probably) Abbot 1431-c.1465.
Carsaig sandstone, very worn and
base gone. |
|
|
A series of effigies in the Abbey
museum. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Gilbride, a chief of
the MacKinnons.
Latin inscription on the pillow:
Here lies Gilbride MacKinnon
with his sons Ewan and
Corbellus. Formerly in St
Oram's Chapel |
Unknown.
Formerly in
Reilig
Odrain. |
Unknown. Formerly in Reilig
Odrain. |
Unknown.
Formerly in
Reilig
Odrain. |
Unknown. Formerly in Abbey
Church |
Prioress Anna MacClean
Fragment formerly in
the nunnery; very low relief.
The lower half contained the
figure of the Virgin Mary. Latin
inscription, partly lost:
Here lies lady Anna, daughter of
Donald, son of Charles, sometime
Prioress of Iona who died in the
year 1543. We comment her soul
to the All-Highest..... |
|
|
|
Top of Page
|
 |
Isle
of Oronsay |
 |
| A visit to Oronsay Priory is
recommended but only for the fit enthusiast! Oronsay is
a small island off the West Coast with a population of
eight in 1991. Take the ferry from Oban to Scalasaig on
the nearby Island of Colonsay. Follow the B8086 from the ferry
east, turn left (south) on the B8055, a distance of
about three miles - either on foot or take the post bus
- to The Strand which separates the two islands. The
Strand, about a mile in length, can be crossed at low
tide by foot on a designated path and it is then about a
mile's walk to the priory. The ruins are delightful,
second only to Iona. There are over thirty medieval
monuments - both carved stones and effigies - which are
housed in roofed building. |
|
|
|
