The Keeill Garden 7th– 9th century
The History
The second wave of Celtic missionary activity to the Isle of Man came from Iona in Scotland. A major feature in the Manx landscape became the keeill (a small chapel). There are thought to have been over 170 Keeill sites, by tradition one in each ‘Treen’ which is made up of 4 Quarterlands (Woods Atlas of 1864 indicates 171 Treens). Their foundations date back to the seventh century. The fragment of the stone carved Calf of Man crucifixion is thought to have come from a chapel altar and is one of the most important examples of early Christian art. A replica has been incorporated here as the altar piece.
The Design
The keeill here is a replica of the one at Lag-ny-Keeilley, a remote site located on the south west coast not far from the hamlet of Dalby. The walls are topped with turf.
On the northern exterior wall of the keeill is a representation of an ancient geological event, the collision of the two ancient continents of Gondwana and Laurentia, some 480 million years ago. Once 5,000 kilometres apart and separated by the ancient Iapetus Ocean, the major geological fault, which can be seen on the beach at Niarbyl, is a reminder of the earth’s early history.
The garden will has a deep set circular seating area set within a hollow mound in the landscape which encourages visitors to linger and appreciated the sky.
The Isle of Man, because of its isolation, has some unique species of animals that would have been known to the Celts such as the Manx tail-less cat. Regrettably other local breeds such as the Manx horse have been lost.
Today
While Keeills may have largely disappeared from the landscape there are a huge number of churches and chapels, each with their story to tell. Some house ancient Celtic crosses.