- Devenish Island (Devenish of the Assemblies) on Lower Lough Erne hosts one of Ireland’s most significant early monastic sites, founded by the 6th-century St Molaise (Laisrén). Accessible by boat, the island features a finely preserved 12th-century round tower, ruined Augustinian abbey, high crosses, and church remnants. It served as a place of worship, scholarship, burial, and pilgrimage, welcoming devotees and assemblies of chieftains in a serene, water-bound setting that echoes ancient island veneration.
- St Patrick’s Holy Well (Dabhach Phádraig or Davagh Phadric) near Belcoo (Holywell) stands as a renowned pilgrimage site, a large spring-fed pool blessed by tradition during St Patrick’s travels. Surrounded by overhanging trees used as rag trees, adorned with ribbons, cloths, and offerings, it draws pilgrims for healing—particularly for stomach and nervous complaints—with rituals of circumambulation and prayer, especially from late July to mid-August, preserving pre-Christian hydrolatry overlaid with saintly devotion.
- Boa Island Caldragh Graveyard on Boa Island in Lower Lough Erne shelters enigmatic pre-Christian stone figures, including the famous double-sided (Janus-like) idol and another anthropomorphic carving, likely pagan deities from over 2,000 years ago. Set amid an early Christian graveyard (400–800 AD), the site evokes a transition from ancient sacred groves to Christian burial, inviting reflection on mythic Celtic beliefs in a quiet, atmospheric enclosure.
County Fermanagh:
Ireland’s county Fermanagh is a county of lakes and historic charm, with Lough Erne’s waterways offering boating and fishing amidst serene islands. Enniskillen Castle and its museums explore local history, while the Marble Arch Caves, part of a UNESCO Geopark, showcase stunning underground caverns. Other attractions include the historic Florence Court estate and its gardens. Fermanagh is Ireland’s 20th largest county by size (1,876 square km) and fourth smallest by population (63,585). Population peaked at 156,481 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 49,886 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Fermanagh is Ireland’s 28th most visited tourist county with around 43,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Sacred Places
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
