THE SCENE: In case you ever needed proof that island life can extend your life-span.
THE TEXT: There is a lake in the north of Munster which contains two islands, one rather large and the other rather small. The larger has a church venerated from the earliest times. The smaller has a chapel cared for most devotedly by a few celibates called “heaven-worshippers” or “god-worshippers”.
In the smaller island no one ever died or could die a natural death. Accordingly it is called the island of the living. Nevertheless the inhabitants sometimes suffer mortal sicknesses and endure the agony almost to their last gasp. When there is no hope left; when as the strength decreases they are eventually so distressed that they prefer to die in death than drag out a life of death, they get themselves finally transported in a boat to the larger island, and , as soon as they touch the ground there, they give up the ghost.
– The History and Topography of Ireland, Gerald of Wales, 12th Century AD
