Dalkey Island ( ) is an island for which the nearby village of Dalkey is named ( meaning "thorn island", with ey the Old Norse (Viking) version of "island"). It is an uninhabited island located in the Barony of Uppercross, about south of Dublin and south of Dún Laoghaire harbour. An important site of pilgrimage for centuries, it has been known as "St Begnet's Isle" since records began. The earliest reference to 'Dalkey Island' is from c. 1782. The island had a population of 8 in 1841. Location, situation and access The 25-acre island is currently uninhabited but there is evidence of human occupation dating back to the Neolithic period. The remains of field systems, a church dedicated to Saint Benedict, a cairn burial, a gun battery which had three 24 pound guns and the Martello Tower still exist. There are two Holy Wells, one on the western shoreline is known locally as the "Scurvy Well" and is located within a surrounding stone structure. The well near the church was claimed in the 19th century to be efficacious in treating ophthalmic complaints. There is also a bullaun stone formed from an earthbound boulder. This may have been used as a pagan altar as it was 'Christianised' in the 7th century by carving an early Christian cross on the face. This lies close to the remains of the church. At the northern extremity of the Island there is evidence of a deep ditch or fosse that was the boundary of a medieval Promontory Fort. Located less than 300 metres off the mainland, the island comprises 9 hectares (22 acres). From Bulloch Harbour, it is possible to visit the island. Also a regular ferry operates from Coliemore Harbour , during the summer months. History Dalkey Island, only 5 minutes by boat from Coliemore Harbour, is an important site of ancient and historic remains. Artefacts from the island, now housed in the National Museum in Dublin, provide evidence that the island's original occupants were from the Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age. Humans continued to use the site through the Neolithic, Iron Age and Early Christian period. There is evidence it was inhabited in the 4th millennium BC (6,000 years ago) and was also used as a Viking base. A number of early medieval pieces of pottery and glassware were found on the island. Some of these artefacts came from the Mediterranean area, possibly