One of the things that I’m greatly interested in is the early Irish monasteries. Some of these monasteries are located in dangerous and secluded  locations which was sought after by monks dedicated to the lives of hermitage.  More commonly, these monasteries are located in populated areas with good land and important routeways. The more developed ones grew into a community of monastic tenants, servants and craft workers. In the absence of centralized authority , these large monasteries developed into centers of religion, education, trade and craftsmanship. Early Irish monasteries were also responsible in preserving Ireland’s culture and history because the monks recorded events, laws and literature  as they happen. Below are some features of early monasteries in Ireland :

Church Buildings

The first monastic churches in Ireland may have been small wattle and daub structures, but in the eastern portion of the island, single-chambered wooden oratories soon appeared. The limited availability of trees for use as lumber prompted the first monks in western Ireland to build churches made of stone. Monastic churches have common features : they have a length, width ratio of 1:5:1  and have very few windows. The lintelled doorway provides most of the light. These early churches would have been covered by thatched roof, although some in the west have stone slabs forming the roof. The churches are aligned east-west with the altar facing Jerusalem in the east and the doorway located in the western end of the building.

A unique type of church in large numbers can be found in the west of Ireland, particularly in the peninsula of west Kerry. Is is built on unmortared stone and resembles an overturned boat. The sidewalls slant gradually inward from the base of the structure and begin to do so more evenly about three meters from the ground.

Round Towers

Round towers were primarily constructed in Ireland in the tenth through the twelfth centuries and these structures were never found independent of monastic enclosures. These Irish structures are tall, circular, tapering towers, often with a conical roof. that were built  of mortared stone. Sixty five stone towers still stand in Ireland today. And thirteen of these retain their conical caps.

High Crosses

Ireland’s High Crosses could have developed independently beginning the eight through the ninth century. A circle connects the extended arms of the cross with a shaft and has a stepped pyramid or conical base. Many crosses are highly decorated and later on, biblical scenes were carved in the crosses with Celtic artwork along the edges. There are also evidence suggesting that high crosses could have been brightly painted at one point. Monks most likely used the biblical crosses as teaching or preaching instruments. This function, along with the positioning of Irish High Crosses in monasteries, suggests that they were public monuments rather than grave markers. They may also have served as boundary markers for monastic sites, as many of them are evenly situated around the outer edges of monastic enclosure.

Shrines and Graves

The grave or shrine of the founding saint is an important feature of most Irish monasteries. Irish shrines take on many forms as well, ranging from cross decorated pillar, upright cross slabs and A-roofed tombs to the later box shrines of decorated stones ands small rectangular buildings that house the graves of the founder saints. The graves almost, always stand in the open and are marked by pillars. Small tomb-shrines, however, stand separate from , but close to the principal church.This is probably because of their importance as a principal station in the pilgrimage rounds that were characteristically performed at Irish monasteries.