What Is Inis Beag's Culture
“Inis Beag”
The fictious name Inis Beag refers to one of the islands located in the Irish Gaeltacht. During the 60’s, it was home to just 350 people, who were primarily farmers and fishers. John C Messenger, a cultural anthropologist, travelled to Inis Beag several times with his wife during the years 1961-1966, after an initial visit in the fifties. Messenger’s main goal with these visits was to document the technological, economnic, political, social, religious, esthetic, and recreational aspects of Inis Beag’s culture. In this book, Messanger goes in depth to explain the cultural backgrounds of Inis Beag, as well as the current condition of the island. After spending nineteen months on the island, Messenger discovered many surprising aspects …show more content…
No evidence of Paleolithic civilization has been found on Inis Beag, but the Mesolithic has been dated from 6500 to 3000 BC, which suggests that Inis Beag may have been inhabited by those of the Ice Age. The Neolithic period only lasted 1000 years, leaving remnants behind that point to a merging with the early Mesolithic and the late copper-bronze age forms. Evidence points to an Iron age culture after the arrival of the Celts at around 350 BC. By the year 431, the Iron age ended at the arrival of St. Patrick, who aimed to convert the Celts to Christianity. After this, Inis Beag and its neighboring islands quickly became a huge focus for religious activity, with over a hundred saints having lived or visited there. St. Enda of the Aran Islands, St. Columbkille, St. Kieran, St. Brendan, and St. …show more content…
On the island’s 1440 acres of land, there is a large beach, four rift valleys and a 90-feet deep fresh water lake, along with one small church. There is one school on the island, known as the “national school” which has seven grades. One radio telephone can be found on the island which is used by residents between the hours of nine o’clock in the morning and six at night. The villagers get their water from four wells near each village, or from the water springs from back and along the shores of the island.
While explaining the general lifestyle of the people, Messenger explains that “Health services are provided to the folk by a nurse, a doctor who lives in a neighboring island, and a medical and dental personnel from the mainland who visit the island occasionally for specific examination and treatment purposes” (17). Usually, the doctor will come to Inis Beag once a month, visiting the seriously ill. In the case of serious emergency, the doctor is brought over to the island in a
The fictious name Inis Beag refers to one of the islands located in the Irish Gaeltacht. During the 60’s, it was home to just 350 people, who were primarily farmers and fishers. John C Messenger, a cultural anthropologist, travelled to Inis Beag several times with his wife during the years 1961-1966, after an initial visit in the fifties. Messenger’s main goal with these visits was to document the technological, economnic, political, social, religious, esthetic, and recreational aspects of Inis Beag’s culture. In this book, Messanger goes in depth to explain the cultural backgrounds of Inis Beag, as well as the current condition of the island. After spending nineteen months on the island, Messenger discovered many surprising aspects …show more content…
No evidence of Paleolithic civilization has been found on Inis Beag, but the Mesolithic has been dated from 6500 to 3000 BC, which suggests that Inis Beag may have been inhabited by those of the Ice Age. The Neolithic period only lasted 1000 years, leaving remnants behind that point to a merging with the early Mesolithic and the late copper-bronze age forms. Evidence points to an Iron age culture after the arrival of the Celts at around 350 BC. By the year 431, the Iron age ended at the arrival of St. Patrick, who aimed to convert the Celts to Christianity. After this, Inis Beag and its neighboring islands quickly became a huge focus for religious activity, with over a hundred saints having lived or visited there. St. Enda of the Aran Islands, St. Columbkille, St. Kieran, St. Brendan, and St. …show more content…
On the island’s 1440 acres of land, there is a large beach, four rift valleys and a 90-feet deep fresh water lake, along with one small church. There is one school on the island, known as the “national school” which has seven grades. One radio telephone can be found on the island which is used by residents between the hours of nine o’clock in the morning and six at night. The villagers get their water from four wells near each village, or from the water springs from back and along the shores of the island.
While explaining the general lifestyle of the people, Messenger explains that “Health services are provided to the folk by a nurse, a doctor who lives in a neighboring island, and a medical and dental personnel from the mainland who visit the island occasionally for specific examination and treatment purposes” (17). Usually, the doctor will come to Inis Beag once a month, visiting the seriously ill. In the case of serious emergency, the doctor is brought over to the island in a