Whispers of a little old woman in a red cloak still linger around Keeill Moirrey. This ancient chapel high above Ballacreggan Farm in Glen Maye holds secrets older than time itself.
Keeill Moirrey or Woirrey as it’s sometimes called is one of only three visible ancient chapels left in the parish of Patrick. Dedicated to St Mary its well-preserved foundations stand proudly about three feet high. This remote location has likely helped preserve it. However in the past when slate was quarried nearby and the Foxdale mines were bustling this area would have been much less isolated.
Keeill Moirrey is more than just stones. It sits on a historically significant site. A cairn rests nearby. Higher up sits the Gold Stone. Walter Gill in his Manx Scrapbook calls it the Gold Stone. This quartz rock was mined for a substance thought to have been iron pyrite or Fool’s Gold. It was exported to gild china vessels. A unique Glen Maye Hop Tu Naa song mentions this Gold Stone further adding to Keeill Moirrey’s mystique. Mounds above the Gold Stone are thought to be burial sites. A nearby ancient burial ground known locally as the Churchyard adds to the rich history of this little hilltop.
Folklore adds another layer to Keeill Moirrey’s charm. Legend speaks of a little old woman in a red cloak. She’s sometimes seen ringing a bell near the hour of church service. This Keeill Moirrey dates back to perhaps the sixth century. Its foundations are all that remain of an early Celtic cell. Sadly we didn’t see the little old woman. We explored the unusual structure. Its walls are uniquely surrounded by a second wall with only a narrow walkway between them.
The mystery surrounding Keeill Moirrey deepens. The IOM Antiquarians or the 1877 archaeological commission seemingly overlooked it. Even Kermode’s work offers little. His First Report of the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909 mentions it briefly. The landowner Mr W Quayle MHK kindly allowed a more complete examination. The doorway was in the middle of the west wall. A recess lined with small stones held part of the altar. The surrounding enclosure was sadly gone.
Later research revealed more intriguing details. The excavation was poorly executed by the owner. Perhaps the perplexing second wall is a result of his efforts. Keeill Moirrey measures 57 by 17 meters. Walls are 08 meters wide. The internal height is 07 meters. The doorway remains in the west wall. The mysterious double-wall structure remains unsolved a testament to Keeill Moirrey’s enigmatic past. Keeill Moirrey remains a fascinating place a beautiful spot rich in history and folklore.