Travelling north from Enniskillen, the first island you come to
after the Portora lock gate is Devenish. It has two jetties, Devenish North
and Devenish South. Visitors to the church remains on the island will find
the northern jetty (still closed for repairs at the time of writing, Nov.
2000) unsuitable, as it involves a marshy "damp tramp" through long grass.
To get to Devenish South, turn right after marker post no. 46B and follow
the channel as it bears left round the island.
St. Molaise founded a monastry here in the 6th century which taught some 1,500 novices. Many interesting monastic ruins remain despite the Viking attacks on the island during the 9th and 12th centuries. There is a perfectly preserved 25 metre high round tower (not 25 feet as some guides tell you!), all five storeys of which can be climbed using internal ladders. There is also an Augustinian abbey and the house of St. Molaise who founded the monastic settlement in the 4th century. In the thirteenth century, St. Molaise's church was built and beside the ruined abbey stands an elaborately carved high cross. The island is accessible by ferry from Trory or the MV Kestrel waterbus from Enniskillen town. This beautiful and historic island is open to the public between April and September from Tuesday to Saturday and on Sunday afternoons.
