Church Island —
900 years of history
seen from the water

Church Island — known in Irish as Inchmacnerin, or Mainistir Inis Mac nÉirín (the Island of the Sons of Éirín) — is one of the historic islands of Lough Key, Co. Roscommon. It is home to the ruins of an early Augustinian priory founded between 1140 and 1170 AD, and is designated a protected National Monument. It is one of the most historically significant and atmospheric sites in the west of Ireland.

Church Island is closed to the public as a protected National Monument. The only way to see it is from the water — which makes a boat tour on Lough Key the essential way to experience it. Our guided tour boats and private trips pass the island, giving you a close view of the ruins and the chance to hear the full story of this remarkable place.

Inchmacnerin Abbey is believed to have been established between 1140 and 1170 AD, during a significant period of monastic expansion in Ireland. However, archaeological evidence suggests earlier religious activity on the island dating to the 10th and 11th centuries, with human burials recorded from as early as 1021 AD.

Viewed from the water, you can see the footprint of the original church, a 13th-century eastern extension, surviving stone walls, the remains of cloister buildings within a rectangular monastic enclosure, and the ruins of small stone houses that indicate a community of people once lived on the island alongside the monks. Archaeological excavations also uncovered a saint’s shrine, a holy water stoup, and human burials — all of which are protected on site.

Yes — Church Island and Teddy Bear Island are the same place. To historians and heritage visitors, it is Church Island — Inchmacnerin Abbey, a National Monument with nearly 900 years of recorded history. To the families who visit Lough Key each year, it is Teddy Bear Island — where the fairies of the Fairy Bridge send every lost teddy bear to live happily among the trees. Same island, two remarkable identities.

The Annals of Lough Key are a set of medieval Irish chronicles that record events in the Connacht region. The broader Lough Key area features in these records as a historically significant landscape. Church Island itself appears in surviving medieval records through the noted death of Prior Muireadach O’Gormley in 1229 — the only named individual connected to the priory in historical sources.

Absolutely. Lough Key sits in the heart of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands — a UNESCO-recognised tourism region celebrated for its authentic landscapes, heritage, and experiences. Church Island is one of several remarkable heritage sites visible from the water, including medieval ruins, castle islands, and ancient woodland. If you’re touring Ireland, a boat trip on Lough Key offers a depth of history and beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.

Lough Key is steeped in legend. The wider lake is connected to the romantic story of Una Bhan — one of Ireland’s most enduring tales of love, loss, and the power of the landscape. Church Island itself, with its ancient ruins, saint’s shrine, and centuries of spiritual history, carries a presence and atmosphere that visitors consistently describe as one of the most affecting experiences on the lake.

Yes — we strongly recommend booking ahead, especially during summer and school holidays when tours fill up quickly. You can book securely online through our booking pages. Walk-ins are welcome when spaces allow, but we can’t guarantee availability without a reservation.

Absolutely. Lough Key is one of the finest lake settings in Ireland, sitting in the heart of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. We regularly welcome families from the UK, Europe, the US, and further afield. The combination of original storytelling for children, stunning scenery, and genuine medieval history makes a Lough Key boat tour unlike anything else in Ireland.