Beehive Hut - Monk's cell

We took a friend to visit Kilmartin Museum today, the weather was so dreadful there was no way we were going to wander up the glen to the various really interesting archaeological sites, definitely a day for an indoors visit.

This beehive hut is a reconstruction of the cells where the early christian monks lived; there are 8 "cill" sites as these are known withn 10km of the museum. The hut made of stone stands approximately 6 feet tall.

This poem was written by a 9th century gaelic poet who dreamed of spending his last years in such a cell.

" Alone in my little oratory
With no one in my company
That would be an excellent pilgrimage
Before going on my tryst with death.

A small cell remote and hidden
For forgiveness of every sin
A conscience upright and unblemishd
On the path to Holy heaven "