Tory Island / Toraigh

Church of the Seven / Church of Morsheisear

Although there are no literary references to a monastery at Tory before the 7th century it is traditionally believed that St Colmcille/St Columba established a monastic site here in the sixth century. The Church of the Seven is the only surviving church on the island. Traditionally it's believed there were five churches on the island, but some of the other sites may have been leachts or places for pilgrims to pray. St Brigid's Altar is believed locally to be the remains of a small oratory. Next to the round tower is a leacht known as St John's Altar, on the leacht are two slabs that came from St Colmcille's Church. The church, no longer visible, was located close to St John's Altar. Another stone-built altar is present in the Old Graveyard. Probably the most well-known antiquity on the island is the Tau Cross located close to the pier.

The islanders tell the story of six men and a woman who were drowned at sea and their bodies washed up at Scoilt an Mhóirsheisear on the island. All seven were buried here at this site, but in the morning the woman's body was found lying on top of the grave. Her body was reburied next to the men in a separate grave. This grave is known as the Nun's grave and any soil taken from the grave by a member of a local family offers protection against vermin. The church was built using large rough blocks, the west gable stands 2.3 metres high and the other walls are now less than a metre in height. There is a small stone altar at the east end, pictured below left, and located on the north side of the church is the bullaun stone, pictured below right.