[9] Local fishermen traditionally dipped their sails three times while passing the island.

[10] A wooden statue of the saint was paid special reverence by locals; in an act of iconoclasm the Archbishop of Tuam ordered it buried.

[11] Every 16 July on Féile Mhic Dara (Feast of Macdara) local people make a pilgrimage to the island for a mass and blessing of boats (including the famous Galway hookers).

In addition to the church, there are three penitential stations consisting of cross slabs, and a holy well.

[15] The Irish postal service, An Post, released a series of definitive stamps between 1982 and 1986 depicting the tenth century Macdara's Church on the island.