Devenish Island

Devenish Island lies in Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is a long, narrow lake island about two kilometres in length and over a kilometre wide. The island holds the remains of an early Christian monastery founded by Saint Mo Laisse in the 6th century. At its height the monastery housed up to fifteen hundred religious scholars. Vikings raided the settlement in the 9th century and it was burned in 1157. The island is best known for its round tower and several stone crosses from the 15th century. The round tower rises over twenty-four metres and has four small windows facing the cardinal directions. Each window is topped by a finely carved head beneath a carved cornice. The tower’s design and the crosses show the skill of the masons who worked there centuries ago. A short ferry ride from Trory Point or The Round O near Enniskillen brings visitors to the island. The grassland is an important breeding site for wading birds such as curlew, snipe, redshank and lapwing. The drumlin landscape supports rare plants that grow in few other places. Stone walls and low ruins guide walkers around the site, offering quiet views over the lough.