Reask Ecclesiastical Site

Taking its name from the Irish “An Riasc” (The Marshy Place, Reask is an early Christian monastic site that is also known locally as The Calluragh Burial Ground. The monastery was probably founded in the 5^th century and is approximately 1.5km east of Ballyferriter Village. A bothereen (small road) skirted the edge of the site which, between 1972 and 1975, was excavated by the Archaeologist Thomas Fanning. Sadly almost nothing is known of the site’s historic foundations and what Saints and Abbots may have been associated with it.

The site is early medieval in date and is enclosed by a roughly circular drystone wall bisected by an interior wall which divided the oratory and other sacred sites from secular sites such as the houses and grain kiln. Late Roman 6^th century amphorae and other late Roman pottery were discovered within the site during excavations, indicating direct trade from the continent.

One of the main features of the site are the ruins of a church or chapel which would originally have been similar in appearance to Gallarus Oratory. In front of the chapel is a small shrunken area of paving which probably served as a shrine or reliquary for the corporal remains or relics of a local saint or the founder of the monastery. Beside and under this oratory was discovered an early medieval graveyard which probably served as a burial place for the monks, with 42 burials arranged in 2 rows. In more recent times the site served as a “ceallúnach”, or informal graveyard, for unbaptised children, victims of suicide or others who were refused a formal burial by the Catholic Church.

Large circular clocháns  or beehive dry-stone corbel-built huts, which served as the homes of the monks in the monastery, are arranged in pairs of two.

At least ten beautifully inscribed cross-inscribed slabs are associated with the site, some of which are still in situ in their original locations whilst others have been removed to the local Corca Dhaoine Museum in Ballyferriter or the National Museum.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014