Overview
St Mogue’s Island is a small, tree-covered mound in Templeport Lough, just west of Bawnboy in County Cavan, and the reputed birthplace of St Mogue - St Aidan of Ferns. Locals call it Inch Island, from the Irish inis, and it runs perhaps 300 to 600 yards across at its widest. There’s no visitor centre, no path network, just monastic ruins and an old graveyard on an island you can only reach by boat. That water crossing is the whole appeal, and also the catch: this is a place you have to plan and wait for, not one you drive up to.
The flagstone legend
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, St Mogue was born here after a mysterious woman sought shelter with a weaver’s wife. A miraculous flagstone is said to have carried the newborn across the lake to be baptised by St Killian, returning with the bell that became known as Mogue’s Bell. The legend has the same stone later ferrying coffins to the island graveyard until it split in two during a test of a couple’s faithfulness - one half sank to the lakebed, the other is still pointed out near the ruins. St Mogue himself is a real 6th–7th century figure who became Bishop of Ferns; his feast is 31 January.
He is said to have founded a monastic settlement here in the 7th century, and part of the old church still stands. It’s the folklore, though, that has kept the place alive in the parish.
St Mogue’s clay
The one piece of lore that still shapes how people use the island is the clay. Mortar taken from the old church is called ‘St Mogue’s clay’, and locals bring pinches of it home in the belief that it protects a house against fire. One well-worn story tells of a fire that stopped dead at the door of the one room where the clay was kept. Whatever you make of it, it explains why the ruins have been picked at for generations.
What to see
- Monastic ruins – low stone walls and scattered carved fragments marking the early settlement, a quiet spot to take in the island’s place in early Irish Christianity.
- The island graveyard – a 2017 survey recorded 57 headstones. Families from Templeport, Corlough in Cavan and Lower Drumreilly in Leitrim have buried here for centuries. It’s now officially closed to burials, bar a few families with ancestral plots - the soil is only about four feet deep at most, which always made digging hard.
- Wildlife – Templeport Lough is a designated wildlife sanctuary, run in partnership with the local gun club, and the reeds and open water draw swans, herons and other waterfowl.
- The 1943 crash – the island entered modern folklore in 1943 when an RAF Beaufighter came down on it; the full story is told at bawnboy.com.
Getting there and practical information
Access – the island is only reachable by boat, usually launched from the shore near Bawnboy or Templeport. Trips run mainly in the warmer months, and the St Mogue’s Festival in the first week of August includes crossings. Arrange transport in advance and check the forecast; Cavan Tourism and local operators (including a Fermanagh Lakelands geopark guide) can help.
If you can’t get a boat – you don’t have to miss it entirely. The clearest view from the mainland is from the graveyard at St Peter’s Church of Ireland, the Templeport parish church, which is signposted locally and looks straight across at the island. It’s the fallback worth knowing, because a crossing is never guaranteed.
Facilities – entry is free. There’s nothing on the island - no shop, no toilets - so bring water and supplies. The nearest parking and amenities are in Bawnboy village.
Dogs – well-behaved dogs are welcome on the boat and island if kept on a lead.
Safety – Templeport Lough can get sudden wind shifts, so handle small boats with care. The shoreline and stone paths turn slippery after rain, there are no guardrails around the ruins, and children need close supervision. Wear sturdy footwear.
Nearby
A crossing pairs well with a wider day in the Cavan lakelands:
- Bawnboy – the nearest village, with pubs and the Bawnboy House estate nearby.
- Belturbet – a market town on the River Erne with cafés, shops and Turbet Island nature reserve.
- Cavan County Museum – in Cavan Town, with early Christian artefacts that give context to the island’s history.
- Annagh Lake – a short drive north, known for clear water, angling and lakeside walks.
Directions
From Dublin, take the N3 north to Belturbet, then the N87 west about two kilometres toward Bawnboy, following the local signage for Templeport Lough to the launch points. From Belfast, come south on the A3 to Cavan Town, then the N3 to Belturbet and the N87 as above. Arrive early to secure parking and to give yourself a calm crossing, and bring binoculars for the birds.