Welcome to Derryvullan

There is little information regarding the foundation of the church here. By 1603 it is listed as a parish church. The site is designated “Church” on the 1835 OS map.

The church was rebuilt in 1776 on the site with remains of the earlier church incorporated in the new building. A carved stone head, with puffy cheeks, a double chin and wavy hair, from the earlier building, was built into the east gable wall of the church built in 1776. Remains of this building still stand in the graveyard.

There is a number of interesting grave slabs in the churchyard. A cross-carved red sandstone slab, chipped and in poor condition, has been reset at the head of a modern grave. As noted in the Archaeological Survey of Fermanagh, two other finds associated with the site can no longer be located: a finial stone from the 12th century church and a “hollowed” stone, likely a bullaun stone. William Wakeman, writing in 1870, reported the stone as having been found in 1830 during drainage work at the nearby well. At Wakeman’s time the stone was kept in a cottage near the graveyard. It is one of many stones now lost.

In the townland of Derryvullan, close to the east shore of Tamlaght Bay is St. Patrick’s well, one of the saint’s traditional sites of baptism, and still associated with cures. No trace remains today of the holy well at Derryvullan, designated “St.Patrick’s Well” on the 1908 OS map, where it is shown to the south-east of the church.

Nature Note: Bats, flying mammals that live amongst us
The best time of day to see a bat is at sunset. Two species of bat, the Soprano Pipistrelle and Nathusius’ Pipistrelle roost here at Derryvullan. Both species are found near water. Pipistrelles predominantly roost in building crevices but can dwell in trees. Bats rely on trees, woodland and hedgerows for navigation, food sources and shelter. They hunt along wooded rivers and over water, catching prey in mid-flight and eating on the wing. A single Soprano Pipistrelle can eat up to 3000 insects a night. There are eight species of bat in Northern Ireland, all of which have legal protection.