Church Ruin on Inishmore

Join me on a journey through Inishmore, Galway Bay on a horse-drawn carriage. We’ll see a ruined church, horse pasture, and iron age fort, Dun Aengus, with reflections on the word ‘riven.’

MichaelStephenWills

On Inishmore (Inis Mór), the largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, we enjoyed a journey in a horse-drawn trap, a type of carriage. Starting from Kilronan, the main island settlement where we disembarked from the ferry and hired the trap, we headed up Cottage Road. Our destination an iron age fort, Dun Aengus (Dún Aonghasa, the Irish language name) and the sights along the way.

Continuing along Cottage Road, still within Kilronan, we encountered this charming scene: a horse pasture with a church ruin. The horse, unperturbed by our presence, watched us from behind a gate in the dry stone wall.

Beyond is a slim view of Galway Bay and the coast of Inishmaan, a neighboring Aran Island.

Click the link for my Getty IStock photography of the Aran Islands

This ruined church is on the right side as you travel Cottage Road out of Kilronan Village, Inishmore, County Galway, Ireland. The distant highland is Inis Mann, across Galway Bay. A curious horse looks over a wrought metal gate set in a dry stacked limestone wall.

This ruin, formerly ecclesiastical, torn by time, brought to mind the word ‘riven.

Having roots in Old English “riven” has been used in various forms throughout the history of English literature. Here’s a brief overview of its etymology and literary usage:

“Riven” comes from the proto-German word “rīfan,” from Old Norse “rīfa” meaning to tear apart or rend and akin to Greek“ερείπειν” (ereipein), which means “to demolish” or “to destroy.”

In Middle English, the word evolved into “riven,” “rive,” or “reave,” which continued to carry the meaning of tearing or splitting apart.

The word and its variants have been used by several notable authors throughout history. For instance, in the 16th century, it appears in “The Faerie Queene” by Edmund Spenser, the year 1590: 1.8.9: “Through riven clouds and molten firmament” and it bit later, “like fresh water streame from riven rocks” — as is noted in the Oxford English Dictionary. Continuing from this dictionary, riven has a positive connotation when it was used in the sense of the breaking of unbroken soil by the plough, 1785 in Burns’ “Death and Dr. Hornbook,” chapter 23, “His brawn calf-ward whare gowens grew, sae white and bonnie, nae doubt they’ll rive it with the plough.” Note: a “calf-ward” means a pen for calfs and “gowen” is a archaic Scottish for daisy.

In modern English, “riven” is primarily used in its past participle form, describing something that has been split or torn apart, often in a violent or forceful manner. It’s less commonly used as a standalone verb in contemporary language.

Over time, “riven” has also taken on a more figurative meaning, describing not just physical splitting, but also deep divisions in non-physical entities, such as societies, organizations, or groups.

The root of “riven” has also influenced other words in English. For example, “bereave” and “bereft” come from the same root and carry a sense of loss and separation. This feeling of loss was far from our hearts as we reveled in the engaging scenery and new sights of this Aran island.

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28 thoughts on “Church Ruin on Inishmore”

  1. This is such an interesting capture. Other than the missing roof and windows, it seems that the stones in the structure have withstood the test of time magnificently. Beautiful! 😊

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  6. Was so sorry to miss a trip to Inismore due to rough seas during my last visit to Ireland. I would love to see the “wormhole” as both my sons are springboard divers and it looks like a dramatic spot. Beautiful photos.

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    1. Kymber, The weather and even the friendly horse came together for a memorable image. I’m thrilled to hear that my post resonated with you! Your enthusiasm is incredibly motivating. If there’s any specific aspect you particularly enjoyed or related to, I’d love to hear more about it.

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      1. I love all your photos for different reasons, but I really love the ruins, the lush green (we’re all gray skies and snow here), and seeing your nature photos. You are a brilliant photographer!

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