On Devenish Island Lower Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh

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Where: Northern Ireland, Fermanagh, United Kingdom

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When: Unknown

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This crisp image of ancient ruins on Devenish Island in Co. Fermanagh for Tower Thursday! That gable looked in good condition then, what does it look like now?

From Wikipedia:
Devenish or Devinish (from Irish: Daimhinis, meaning "ox island") 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 catch a ferry to the island is at Trory Point, just outside Enniskillen. Devenish Island is owned by the Kilravock Christian Trust.

Devenish contains one of the finest monastic 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 Vikings in 837 and burned in 1157, it later flourished as the site of the parish church and St Mary's Augustinian Priory.


Photographer: Robert French

Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection

Date:Between 1880 - 1900

NLI Ref: L_ROY_03382

You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie

Info:

Owner: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 55920
robertfrench williamlawrence lawrencecollection lawrencephotographicstudio glassnegative nationallibraryofireland ulster devenishisland fermanagh cofermanagh northernireland ireland monasticruins monastic ruins lawrencephotographcollection

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  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 07/Apr/2016 08:32:17

    Unchanged: Devinish Island monastic ruin

  • profile

    sharon.corbet

    • 07/Apr/2016 08:37:31

    6" OSI Map showing the round tower and ruins.

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    Niall McAuley

    • 07/Apr/2016 08:40:38

    This is the oratory of Saint Molaise, says wikipedia.

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    Niall McAuley

    • 07/Apr/2016 08:43:42

    Nice aerial view in Bing.

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    Niall McAuley

    • 07/Apr/2016 08:45:57

    [https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07] That 6" also marks, at the shore to the North West, a Remarkable Stone.

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    AndyBrii

    • 07/Apr/2016 09:07:36

    Round medieval stone towers are unique historical structures in Ireland . Over 50 round towers exist in Ireland. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_round_tower An 1883 engraving of the Cathedral St Canice, Kilkenny and its round tower (from History of Ireland 1883): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/angeljim46/7092563905/in/photolist-bNKf9z-bNJpnT]

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 07/Apr/2016 09:42:26

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley I think you have the reverse view in "unchanged" above ! How about this - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ezzezerre/19936531279/ For comparison, also the Yanks LOC - https://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/4427425416/ And the Vikings Swedes - https://www.flickr.com/photos/swedish_heritage_board/4497044538/

  • profile

    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 07/Apr/2016 09:43:51

    An image from one of my contacts with a (nearly) similar PoV! It does appear to remain in relatively good condition. https://www.flickr.com/photos/vip223/6494391151/in/photolist-FWWsCB-aTTsee

  • profile

    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 07/Apr/2016 10:17:44

    Droneview !! particularly at 0:12 - youtu.be/8OaQFOE_b5U

  • profile

    sharon.corbet

    • 07/Apr/2016 13:13:40

    The cap of the round tower was restored in 1835. (There are some pictures of carvings found at the top of the tower too.)

  • profile

    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 07/Apr/2016 19:06:43

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07 https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia https://www.flickr.com/photos/angeljim46 https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley Thanks for all today's comments.

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 07/Apr/2016 22:18:58

    Via Trove, a contemporary 1890 visit by Mrs W. I. Thrower ...

    ... A pull of two miles and a half brought us to this isle of ruins, where we landed and went to inspect the ruins of the ancient abbey church — the round tower of which is considered to be one of the finest now remaining in Ireland - and various monuments. The large ruin of the Abbey has the remains of its tower stile, in which is to be seen the old belfry, partly restored and accessible by means of a winding staircase of flintstone steps polished quite smoothly by the passage of feet, during many centuries. The old tower and one arch, with groined roof beneath, are all that remain to indicate the sacred nature of the edifice, which is evidently of very ancient construction. It has been attributed to a period of about the thirteenth century, but nothing is known very definitely of its history. The round tower is situated about midway between this and the dilapidated ruins of another church of still more ancient date; so ancient indeed that no time has been accurately assigned for its origin. Both churches are enclosed within a stone wall, and are surrounded by many graves, over which are stones which once commemorated the names of those who sleept beneath, but upon all the very ancient tablets time has obliterated every trace of inscriptions, and with his relentless hand has honeycombed them with decay, or covered their weather-worn surfaces with a mantle of moss. The oldest of those stones upon which an inscription is still legible, bears the date of 1643. A very old and. perfect stone cross , which is said to have been placed near the Church as a memorial of a bishop in the Fourteenth Century, is still in a most perfect condition, and all the sculptured designs are quite distinct, although, of course they have become very smooth and worn with age. The round tower is complete also, but this bears evidence of recent restoration; it is of a great height, and has a high conical roof with a band of sculptured stone at the eaves. It is pierced with loop-holes and window openings, which were once accessible by means of. an inner stairway which no longer exists. ...
    From trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200365411?searchTerm=d... - the rest of the article is quite a good read too, if you can endure Mrs Thrower's complaints about late trains etc. Also via Trove, an article from 1927 (when the whole island was for sale) with some wonderful tall stories about a magical stone coffin, a sunken bell, and a monk being chased by the devil - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107969222

  • profile

    oaktree_brian_1976

    • 08/Apr/2016 01:25:13

    Sorry, I have no landmark court cases to cite today. Good photo of old ruins, nice to see them still around today.

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    domenico milella

    • 08/Apr/2016 08:46:11

    Congratulation for your beautiful Album. Nice day. Ciao.

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    paolotrapella

    • 08/Apr/2016 09:42:39

    Nice...

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    le cabri

    • 08/Apr/2016 18:03:11

    Great one

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    luizalexandresimas

    • 08/Apr/2016 20:55:54

    Great shot! You have a very interesting and beautiful photostream :)

  • profile

    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 10/Apr/2016 09:22:35

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/138681416@N08 Thank you.