Welcome to Davy’s Island

Davy’s Island, White Island and Inishmacsaint are rich in ecclesiastical history. The island lies in Castle Archdale Bay. It was originally called Inishmore (big island), while Inishbeg (little island), is the former name of Tom’s Island which lies to the northeast of Davy’s Island. By 1618, Inishmore was in the ownership of Sir John Davies, as part of the Lisgoole estate, and at this time assumed the name Davy’s Island.

The origins of the ruined church on the island are uncertain but the site may be associated with St. Constans. The church stands within an earthen enclosure, similar to the church boundary on White Island. The ruined 12th century church is a Romanesque building and is surrounded by a graveyard. The latest legible gravestone dates to 1762. By the early 17th century, the island belonged to the Augustinian Canons at Lisgoole. Medieval coins found on the island support the theory that it once had a hostel for pilgrims en route to Lough Derg. Monks seemed to have chosen islands like Inishmore as they were good building sites, accessible when needed, remote when not, and sheltered from prevailing northwest winds.

Close to the centre of the south wall of the church is a plain round headed doorway, re-erected in the 20th century. The arch and jambs are bevelled terminating at ground level in small pyramidal stops. Lady Dorothy Lowry Corry was of the opinion that the door arch and the outer face of the standing wall are original.

In 2023, exciting new archaeological investigations at Davy’s Island and nearby White Island, uncovered possible prehistoric activity. The findings suggest that the importance of the islands pre-date their significance as Early Christian monastic sites. A digital story map of the archaeological process, findings and analysis is accessible through this link https://tinyurl.com/LEPW-Archaeology 

Nature Note: Fishing

“The Erne is decidedly the best fisherman’s river in Ireland and can be equalled but by a few anywhere.” (Henry Newland, fishing parson, West Sussex). However, the poor looked to fish for food and not sport. Newland noted: “the salt eel is the staple food for Belleek and the favourite Lenten food of the Roman Catholics; and for this fish, the Erne is more famous than it is for its salmon.”