Reenconnell Explained

Reenconnell
Native Name:	Rinn Chonaill
Native Name Lang:	ga
Diocese:	Ardfert and Aghadoe
Status:	ruined
Style:	Celtic
Location:	Reenconnell, Kilmalkedar, County Kerry
Coordinates:	52.1853°N -10.3029°W
Map Type:	Ireland
Public Access:	yes
Remains:	church
Embedded:	Embed: yes Designation2: National Monument of Ireland Designation2 Offname: Reenconnell Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site^[1] Designation2 Number: 221.35

Reenconnell is a medieval Christian site and National Monument located on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland.^{[2] [3]}

Location

Reenconnell is north-northwest of Dingle.^{[4] [5]} Reenconnell is 274 metres (899 feet) high. The peak overlooks the village of Brandon Creek.^[6]

History

Reenconnell is a medieval Christian site.^[7] It is reportedly the hill that St. Brendan once looked out to the Atlantic Ocean and decided to sail out towards it seeking the "Isle of the Blessed" (later called Saint Brendan's Island) as recorded in the 9th century manuscript, The Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot. It was used as part of a walking trail for hikers and pilgrims heading en route to Mount Brandon.^[8]

Church

Reenconnell has a church on it originally dedicated by St. Maolcethair in the 6th century AD but later rebuilt in the 12th century in Irish Romanesque style to resemble the chapel built on the Rock of Cashel.^[9] The church's graveyard at Calluragh/An Ceallúnach on Reenconnell was set aside for unbaptized children. A 6feet-tall High cross was erected on the site to mark the location of the graves.^[10] In addition there are also stones with Ogham inscriptions amongst several smaller stone crosses.^[11] One of which is dated to the 6th century with Latin script. Pilgrims also carved a rock spiral in Reenconnell as a celebration of seeing Feothanach. However, it is also speculated that the spiral pre-dated Christian pilgrimage and was a symbol of Celtic paganism of unknown meaning.^{[12] [13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Monuments in State Care . 10 March 2020.
2. Book: McGill, Lochlann. In Conall's Footsteps. 0863221513 . 11 September 1992. Brandon. Google Books.
3. Book: Hendroff, Adrian. The Dingle Peninsula. 18 May 2015 . 978-1848895317 . The Collins Press. Google Books.
4. Book: Donegal: History & Society : Interdisciplinary Essays on the History of an Irish County. William. Nolan. Liam. Ronayne. Mairead. Dunlevy. 11 September 1995. Geography Publications . 0906602459 . Google Books.
5. Book: Lyons, Mary E.. The Blue Ridge Tunnel: A Remarkable Engineering Feat in Antebellum Virginia. 25 February 2014. Arcadia Publishing . 978-1625849526 . Google Books.
6. Web site: 25 best winter walks in Ireland . 24 October 2017 . Irish Independent . 2020-03-10.
7. Book: Barrington, T. J.. Discovering Kerry: Its History, Heritage & Topography. 11 September 1999. Collins Press . 1898256713. Google Books.
8. Web site: John . O'Dwyer . Go Walk: Mount Brandon, Co Kerry . Irish Times . 10 May 2014 . 10 March 2020.
9. Web site: John . O'Dwyer . Walk for the weekend: Cosáin na Naomh, Co Kerry . Irish Times . 19 September 2018 . 10 March 2020.
10. Web site: Cross, Reenconnell . NUI Galway . 10 March 2020.
11. Web site: Cross and Ogham pillar stone . NUI Galway . 10 March 2020.
12. Web site: Waling through Ireland's beautiful landscape through pilgrim's path . 29 July 2016 . Irish Central . 10 March 2020.
13. Book: Herity, Michael. Studies in the Layout, Buildings and Art in Stone of Early Irish Monasteries. 11 September 1995. Pindar Press . 0907132812 . Google Books.
14. Book: The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey. Peter. Harbison. Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz Forschungsinstitut für Vor- und. Frühgeschichte. Royal Irish. Academy. 11 September 1992. R. Habelt . 3774925364 . Google Books.