Killoluaig

Tomb shrine

This is another site I tried to visit last year but I was thwarted by the presence of a bull. This time I felt quite elated as I hopped over the low fence and walked across to the enclosure, but the elation did not last long as this early Christian site has been badly neglected. The gorse has been allowed to totally overrun the site. It consists of an early Christian enclosure with an outdoor altar or leact inside it. Standing on top of the rectangular leacht is a gable-shrine. These are sometimes called tent shrines for obvious reasons. They were used to house the relics of early saints and probably date to around the 8th century. Not far from here is a similar shrine at Kilabounia. The finest example I have seen is the one at Illaunloughan near Portmagee, a look at that page will will help you imagine the way Killoluaig may have looked originally.

Latest visit