The garvelachs, Isles of the Sea or even the less familiar "Mare Islands".Now Isolated from the main centres of population the Islands were once in the midst of a busy waterborne community. The sea was the main highway and was so for millenia.The seas were plentiful of fish and the land plentiful in game. material things were made by you or somebody within the community, you also had the services of 'boat dwelling tinkers' or you gave your shopping list to a boat skipper heading for Glasgow and on his next trip back your way, he would bring your goods. It may have taken several weeks but time was not a factor, 'saving time' was not recognised within the culture.
Cup marked stone on a vertical rock face on the Garvelach . Approximately 8 inches diameter. I have seen a similar markings in a magazine article many years ago and there was some significance in the mark to the left. If anybody can help with this I would be grateful.
Eileach an Naoimh
The stories that make the history of Eileach an Naoimh the best-preserved early Christian monastery in Scotland
Eileach an Naoimh, “Rock of the Saints”, is located between the islands of Scarba and Mull off Mid Argyll. The site, which may date to about 542, includes the remains of a monastery believed to have been founded by St Brendan the Navigator.The existing remains include a church, chapel, graveyards, a remarkable double beehive cell, a possible underground ritual “purgatory” and a complex of domestic buildings, although it is uncertain how many of these buildings belong to the early Christian period. Human bones and a skull were found at the site in 1859, when one of the buildings was rebuilt as a sheepfold. Eileach an Naoimh has not been excavated
St Brendan the Navigator, whose remarkable adventures culminated in the founding of the monastery.”
His arrival is recorded in verse form in the “Life of Brendan” : So Brendan sailed over the wave-voice of the strong-maned sea, and over the storm of the green-sided waves, and over the mouths of the marvellous, awful, bitter ocean… and found beautiful, marvellous islands.
Adomnán records that Columba was visited on Hinba (Eileach an Naoimh) by St. Comgall, St. Cannich, St. Brendan, and St. Cormac. During a Mass, Brendan saw a luminous globe of fire above Columba's head that "continued burning and rising up like a column of flame, till the Holy Mysteries had been completed". According to the same source, on another occasion whilst visiting Hinba, Columba saw "heavenly visions and revelations" that lasted for three days and nights.
