The ‘church spire’ on Church Island (Inis Taoide) was built for Bishop Hervey in the late 1700s. The island is only accessible on foot over marshy land during the dryer months of the year, but anyone who takes the trouble to go will discover that there is no church under the spire.. it is purely for show! It is known locally as Hervey’s Folly. The spire was bent by a colliding aircraft during the Second World War. It has been straightened up quite recently by the Department of the Environment much to the dismay of some locals who feel that some of its history has been taken away.