Devenish Island
Monastic site on Devenish Island
| |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lower Lough Erne |
| Coordinates | 54°22′20.31″N 7°39′27.51″W / 54.3723083°N 7.6576417°W |
| Area | 0.498 km2 (0.192 sq mi) |
| Length | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Width | 1.1 km (0.68 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 64.3 m (211 ft) |
| Highest point | Sour Hill |
| Administration | |
| Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) | |
Devenish or Devinish[1] (from Irish Daimhinis, meaning 'ox island') is a lake island in Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Aligned roughly north–south, it is about one and a quarter miles (2.0 km) long and two-thirds of a mile (1.1 km) wide.
The island is the site of an early Christian monastery and round tower.[2] It is historically associated with Saint Mo Laisse who is reputed to have founded the monastery in the 6th century.[2] At one point there were up to 1500 religious scholars at Devenish.[3] It possibly belonged to the Culdee order.[4] The settlement, which was raided by Vikings in the 9th century, was burned in 1157.[2] The round tower is 81 feet high with four small windows at the top facing the four cardinal points. Above each window is a finely carved head and a cornice that runs around the top of the tower.[3] There are also examples of 15th century stone crosses on the island.[5]
The island, which is accessible by ferry, is in the civil parish of Devenish.[6] The places to catch a ferry include Trory Point and The Round O, outside Enniskillen.[7] Devenish Island is owned by the Kilravock Christian Trust.[8]
Area of Special Scientific Interest
Devenish Island is designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) for its grassland, which is noted as a significant breeding site location for wading birds, including Curlew, Snipe, Redshank and Lapwing.[9]
Its drumlin landscape also allows communities of scarce plant types to grow there.[9]
See also
- Cahalan Ó Corcrán
- List of archaeological sites in County Fermanagh
- List of townlands in County Fermanagh
References
- Back to citation "Daimhinis/Devinish". Logainm.ie. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 "Devenish - Teampull Mór". irishstones.org. June 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Meehan, Cary (2004). Sacred Ireland. Somerset: Gothic Image Publications. p. 86. ISBN 0 906362 43 1.
- Back to citation "History of Ireland, Devenish-Damhinis – The Isle of Oxen". Stair na hÉireann. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021.
- Back to citation "Irish High Crosses - Devenish Island - Late Medieval Cross". megalithicireland.
- Back to citation "An Daimhinis/Devinish (civil parish)". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- Back to citation "Devenish Island". megalithicireland.com. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
- Back to citation "Kilravock Castle (pronounced 'Kil-rawk') dates from 1460". Kilravockcastle.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- Back to citation occurrence 9.0 Back to citation occurrence 9.1 "Devenish Island ASSI". Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
Further reading
- Curtis, Liz (2004). "Ancient Island Sites on Lough Erne". Culture Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- "Devenish Island". www.enniskillen.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- "Devenish Monastic Site". Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- Donnelly, Colm J (6 February 1997). Living Places. Institute of Irish Studies. ISBN 978-0-85389-475-9.
External links
- Virtual tour of Devenish Island Monastic Site – Virtual Visit Northern Ireland