Here is a photograph of the 18th century St. Dympna`s Church. Also in the photo is the very old grave stones and graveyard.. One of the earliest manmade attractions to halt by is the church and cemetery at Kildavnet, named for a 7th century nun on the run called Saint Dympna. This lass was a daughter of a pagan king of Oriel who, after the death of his wife, reckoned his daughter would suit his bed just as well. The mad old king duly chased the terrified Dympna all the way to Achill where the sprightly virgin managed to catch a boat to Geel in Belgium. Here she set about devoting her life to the Christian God, only to find her life considerably shortened when her father caught up with her unawares and lopped her head clean off with his sword, at which point he was cured of his insanity. Dympna duly became the Saint of Sanity and hence the number of mental health institutions around the globe called Saint Dympna`s.
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