L8112 : Teampall Bhreacáin
taken 5 years ago, 4 km NW of Inishmore, Co Galway, Ireland
Na Seacht dTeampaill, or the Seven Churches, was the most important pilgrimage site on the Aran Islands during the Middle Ages. Today only two churches survive: Teampall Bhreacáin and Teampall an Phoill.
Teampall Bhreacáin (begun in the 8th century) and Teampall an Phoill (from the 15th century) are flanked by a number of rectangular houses, which are believed to be the only pilgrim hostels to survive from late Medieval Ireland.
A National Monument in the Republic of Ireland is a structure or site, the preservation of which has been deemed to be of national importance and therefore worthy of state protection. If the land adjoining the monument is essential to protect it, this land may also be protected.
A list of the monuments can be found at Link
Inishmór or Inis Mór or Inishmore or Árainn is the largest of the Aran Islands (Oileáin Árann). In Irish it means Big Island and the Irish language remains the first language of the islanders. There are many variants of the spelling of the name in both Irish and English, some of which are shown here. The islands are located at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland.
Inishmór has a population of around 900 people. In size it is approximately about 14km long by 3.8km wide. It is the most visited of the islands and has many historical sites as well as being famous for Aran sweaters. Not all sweaters sold on the island are made on the Aran Islands, so buyer beware! The main village or town is Kilronan (Cill Rónáin) which has a number of shops, pubs, a small supermarket and other facilities. There are a number of pubs on the island and traditional music can often be heard in them. The island can be reached by various ferries and by air.