Many years ago, I watched a travelogue on the many little islands that are found off the coast of Ireland. If I recall correctly, there are tiny islands on which can be found the ruins of medieval-era stone dwellings large enough to fit one person – these were places where pious folk would go to spend time alone as religious hermits, and this was called experiencing “white exile.” Or so my sieve-like memory is telling me.
I’ve googled “white exile” and can find nothing relating to Ireland, self-imposed solitude, or anything of the kind. Is this indeed the term that was used for this practice? Are there islands like this, or am I just imagining that, too?
Just to add, googling the Modern Irish for “white exile” (ionnarbadh bán or deoraíocht bhán) turns up nothing, nor did a few variants (with Middle Irish spelling, a different word for “white”).
I’m even less of an expert, but when wandering around the Ring of Kerry, beehive huts are a tourist attraction. Sans Google, I was under the impression that they were hovels occupied by the poorest of the poor, but not necessarily single individuals in search of salvation. I was under the impression that they actually date from the time of the potato famine. Sorry if I’m completely wrong about this.
There were small Dark Ages monasteries like Skellig Michael-- probably 12 monks, tops. Is that close to what you’re looking for? These beehive huts are called clochans and seem to be in use since the bronze age, maybe.
Skellig Michael, yes! I remember that name from the documentary now. I’ll do more research on that.
Thanks to everyone for your help! It’s funny how “white exile” (even in Irish) isn’t turning up anywhere – I wonder where my brain picked up that phrase…
For a well-recorded instance of a monk in the Irish tradition deciding to retire to solitude on a hermitage on an isolated island, there’s St Cuthbert’s retreat to the bleak isle of Inner Farne, as described in Bede’s Life of Cuthbert, especially chapters XVII-XIX. This was in Northumbria rather than Ireland, but the customs of the monestery on Lindisfarne directly descended from those there.
Bede’s description of the buildings is:
The latter comment shows that Cuthbert wasn’t always entirely isolated, with colleagues and visitors making the trip across from Lindesfarne to see him. But the account goes on to describe him shutting himself away from even this contact.
As far as I know, no trace of either Cuthbert’s cell or the hostel has survived.
I haven’t heard the phrase “white exile” used in connection with the custom either.