|
 HOME
Early Christian Sites in County Down Bangor Castlewellan Derry Downpatrick Donaghmore Dromore Drumena Drumbo Kilbroney Killough Legananny Maghera Mahee Island Movilla Portaferry Raholp Saul Sheeplands East/Ardtole Strangford Lough Struell Wells |
St Machaoi is said to have been a convert of St Patrick. He may have been a missionary bishop. The monastery founded by him is the ancient Nendrum, on Strangford Lough. The earliest evidence for the monastery is 7C. There is a splendid monastic enclosure with 3 concentric enclosures (called cashels) with the waters of the Lough visible on all sides. There is a 10C church with sundial, the stump of a Round Tower and the bases of circular huts and workshops, plus the visible remains of a school within the second cashel. The monks developed the earliest tidal mill in the world dated to 619. OS 21 526 637 marked see: St Patrick, Irish Monasticism, Round Towers |