Devenish Island
Encyclopedia
Devenish or Devinish is an island
in Lower Lough Erne
, County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. Aligned roughly north–south, it is about one and a quarter miles long and two-thirds of a mile wide. The main place to get a ferry to the island is at Trory Point, just outside Enniskillen
.
sites in Northern Ireland. A round tower
thought to date from the 12th century is situated on the island, as are the walls of the Oratory of Saint Molaise
who established the monastery in the 6th century, on a pilgrim route to Croagh Patrick
in County Mayo
. It became a centre of scholarship and although raided by Viking
s in 837 and burned in 1157, it later flourished as the site of the parish church and St Mary’s Augustinian
Priory.
There are extensive low earthworks on the hillside, but the earliest buildings are St Molaise's House (a very small church) and the fine round tower close by, both with accomplished Romanesque
decoration of the 12th century. The round tower is some 30 metres (100ft) tall and can be climbed using internal ladders. It features a sculptured Romanesque
cornice
of heads and ornament under the conical stone roof. Nearby is a cross carved with spiral patterns and human heads. There are also several cross-slabs, one with an interlace design and a mediaeval carved cross. Near the round tower, the foundations of another tower were found, which the present tower probably superseded.
The smallest of the three churches (Mo-Laisse's House, named after the founder of the monastery) dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. It has narrow antae with bases carved with classical motifs. Only the lower parts of the walls and some of the roofstones survive.
, the lower church, dates from the early 13th century with a beautifully moulded south window. It was extended to the east in about 1300, and later additions include a residential wing to the north and the Maguire Chapel to the south, with 17th century heraldic slabs.
On the hilltop sits St Mary's Augustinian Priory which is of the mid 15th century and early 16th century, with church, tower and small north cloister. The priory has an intricately carved mid 15th century high cross
in its graveyard
.
There are several hundred loose architectural fragments on the site and among them are over 40 stones from an otherwise lost, richly-decorated Romanesque church. Some of the many loose stones are displayed and set in their historical context in the small visitor centre.
The monastic remains including churches, round tower etc are State Care Historic Monuments in the townland
of Devenish, in Fermanagh District Council
area, at grid ref: area of H224 469. The monastic site (area surrounding the state care monument, grid ref: H224 469) and the rath (grid ref: H2215 4768) are Scheduled Historic Monuments.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Lower Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Aligned roughly north–south, it is about one and a quarter miles long and two-thirds of a mile wide. The main place to get a ferry to the island is at Trory Point, just outside Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
.
Features
Devenish contains one of the finest monasticMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
sites in Northern Ireland. A round tower
Round tower
Round tower may refer to:Types of tower:* Irish round tower, a type of early mediaeval stone tower* Broch, a type of Iron Age drystone structure found in Scotland* Round-tower church, a type of church found mainly in England...
thought to date from the 12th century is situated on the island, as are the walls of the Oratory of Saint Molaise
Laisrén mac Nad Froích
Saint Laisrén mac Nad Froích , or Laisrén of Devenish, also known by his petname Mo Laisse, was the patron saint of Devenish Island in Lough Erne , near Enniskillen, in the present diocese of Clogher...
who established the monastery in the 6th century, on a pilgrim route to Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick , nicknamed the Reek, is a tall mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. It is from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. On "Reek Sunday", the last...
in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. It became a centre of scholarship and although raided by Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s in 837 and burned in 1157, it later flourished as the site of the parish church and St Mary’s Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
Priory.
There are extensive low earthworks on the hillside, but the earliest buildings are St Molaise's House (a very small church) and the fine round tower close by, both with accomplished Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
decoration of the 12th century. The round tower is some 30 metres (100ft) tall and can be climbed using internal ladders. It features a sculptured Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
of heads and ornament under the conical stone roof. Nearby is a cross carved with spiral patterns and human heads. There are also several cross-slabs, one with an interlace design and a mediaeval carved cross. Near the round tower, the foundations of another tower were found, which the present tower probably superseded.
The smallest of the three churches (Mo-Laisse's House, named after the founder of the monastery) dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. It has narrow antae with bases carved with classical motifs. Only the lower parts of the walls and some of the roofstones survive.
, the lower church, dates from the early 13th century with a beautifully moulded south window. It was extended to the east in about 1300, and later additions include a residential wing to the north and the Maguire Chapel to the south, with 17th century heraldic slabs.
On the hilltop sits St Mary's Augustinian Priory which is of the mid 15th century and early 16th century, with church, tower and small north cloister. The priory has an intricately carved mid 15th century high cross
High cross
A high cross or standing cross is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval tradition in Ireland and Britain of raising large sculpted stone crosses, usually outdoors...
in its graveyard
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
There are several hundred loose architectural fragments on the site and among them are over 40 stones from an otherwise lost, richly-decorated Romanesque church. Some of the many loose stones are displayed and set in their historical context in the small visitor centre.
The monastic remains including churches, round tower etc are State Care Historic Monuments in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Devenish, in Fermanagh District Council
Fermanagh District Council
Fermanagh District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. The borders of the district are very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh, containing all of that county plus a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore Road and Kilskeery Road areas. Council headquarters are...
area, at grid ref: area of H224 469. The monastic site (area surrounding the state care monument, grid ref: H224 469) and the rath (grid ref: H2215 4768) are Scheduled Historic Monuments.
See also
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- List of townlands in County Fermanagh
- Cahalan Ó CorcránCahalan Ó CorcránFláithrí Ó Corcrán, Irish Abbot, died 1001.Ó Corcrán bore a surname held by two at least two unrelated clans; one was a Brehon family from County Fermanagh, a second were situated in Munster...
External links
- Devenish Island Graveyard Survey
- Virtual tour of Devenish Island Monastic Site - Virtual Visit Northern Ireland