White Island/Davy's Island

County Fermanagh

There was an early monastery on this Island in Lower Lough Erne, built with wood, where previously there had been a pre-Christian settlement. The remains of the stone 12C church contain some remarkable carved figures found only in 1958. There are 8 of these, one being unfinished. They date from 800 -1000. The re-builders of the 12C reused them. It is likely that their style was by then quite alien to them.

The meaning of these figures is much debated. Some of them may represent Christ and may have functioned as the supports of an altar.

There is also a Cross Slab. OS: 17 175 600 marked

There was also a monastery on nearby Davy’s Island. There are the remains of a 12C church. OS: 17 174 594 marked

see: Richard Chambers White Island History and Mystery. This book also has a photo of the church on Davy’s island