This may be what Nendrum Monastery looked like in the 5th century. It was a Christian monastery and it is located on Mahee Island in Strangford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland. The monastery came to an end at some time between 974 and 1178, but its church served a parish until the site was abandoned in the 15th century. Cam's parents stayed closed to this site when they were visiting with us and so one morning Elise and I went exploring the remains of this mysterious monastery. St. Patrick is said to have visited this site and met Machaoi and baptised him. After which Machaoi started the church and the school. There is a story told that some time later Machaoi went to cut wood and fell asleep while a bird sang him three songs, fifty years for each song. When he woke up he was not aged in any way and returned to the monastery to find only the descendants of the monks he had known. Ummm...so be careful not to fall asleep under a birds song. :-)
This is one of the remains of the famous bell towers. The monastery used bell towers to govern their day and for protection from invasions. They were very important in the lives of the monks.
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