Scattery Island is associated with many legends. There are unsafe sea monsters, healing waters and the spirits of the monks and priests who lived in the monasteries there.
Off the coast of Kilrush in Co. Clare, nestled in the scratchy waves of the Atlantic Ocean, lies Scattery Island. This idyllic island, called Inis Cathaigh in Irish, holds secrets that echo through the annals of time, from tales of sea monsters to antique legends of saints and ghostly apparitions that give this mystical island its name.
Monstrous Cathach
Before the dawn of the 6th century, Scattery Island was a place of fear, for its inhabitants lived in the sinister shadow of a sea monster known as the Cathach. This malevolent creature, a Peist of unimaginable fear, terrorized the islanders.
The legend tells of the divine intervention of Saint Senan, a holy figure who was to change the fate of Scattery Island. According to antique stories, Saint Senan received a heavenly visit from Archangel Michael. This heavenly messenger gave him knowledge and power to banish the wicked Catach from the island.
Saint Senan confronted the Cathach, calling upon the name of the Holy Trinity. He commanded the malevolent creature to leave the island and never return. The powers of divine intervention prevailed and the Cathach were driven from Scattery Island and cast into the depths of Black Lake in County Mayo.
Monasteries and a healing well
Divine presence of Saint Senana left an indelible mark on Scattery Island. He founded monasteries that flourished for centuries, bearing witness to his miraculous deeds. To this day it is believed that visiting the grave of St. Senana has healing powers, and believers seek comfort and renewal there.
The rule was that no woman should ever set foot on the grounds. There are also legends about miracles and magical water that could cure everything in the Holy Well. It is said that even the grave of St. Senana located in this place has healing powers for those who visited him.
Over the years, the monasteries were attacked by the Vikings and were abandoned during the reign of Elizabeth I. There were just ghosts everywhere.
A terrifying fisherman's story
It has always been a mysterious place, even without the story of the sea serpent. When the Shannon captains and their families repopulated the island in the 19th century, they were the only inhabitants of the area to have somewhat escaped famine, and for this reason many believed there must be something special about this place.
It is also believed to be haunted, with a legend about a fisherman seeking shelter on the island during a storm that occurred in the 19th century.
He entered the ruins of an antique church to pray, seeking divine protection from the fury of the storm. As he knelt in grave devotion and closed his eyes, an amazing transformation took place. The air seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly presence as the disembodied voices of monks and priests filled the sacred space. Unaware of the fisherman's presence, they celebrated mass at the altar, a ghostly gathering from a long time ago.
The fisherman's heart beat with terror as he realized that he had unknowingly stumbled upon a supernatural land. Overwhelmed, he closed his eyes again and fervently prayed for them to go away. When he dared to open his eyes again, the ghostly apparitions had disappeared into an ethereal mist, leaving the island steeped in history and haunting secrets.
The enigmatic heritage of Scattery Island
Where sea monsters met the unwavering faith of a saint and the chants of antique monks echo through the air, Scattery Island stands as a testament to Ireland's prosperous history, myth and supernatural phenomena.
The last person living on the island moved away in the 1970s, and churches, monasteries and even a castle remained in the ghost town. This mysterious island attracts the curious to explore its haunted shores, where the past and specter meet in a land of haunting beauty and timeless wonder.
Bibliography:
Beware of Clare's haunted side
County Clare: 5 haunted places to visit | Scary Islands
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