Thirty percent of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland is covered with lakes and waterways, and there are some 150 islands to explore here. The landscape has been called a glorious “patchwork quilt” of woodland, forest, parkland and wetland. Cruise through the twin lakes of Lough Erne, Upper and Lower, which cover one-third of Fermanagh, and spend time visiting the county’s numerous historical landmarks.
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday @fermanaghlakes @waterwaysirelan @BluewaysIreland #bluewaydoityourway pic.twitter.com/aqEelgRDT0 According to DiscoverNorthernIreland.
com , Fermanagh’s name comes from ‘Firmonach,’ or ‘the men of Monach,’ a Celtic tribe that settled around the shores of the loughs in the early Christian era. You can find evidence of the area’s Celtic past on Boa Island, in Caldragh Cemetery, home to two Celtic pagan stone idols. One of the stone carvings is a two-headed Janus figure that was the inspiration for Seamus Heaney’s poem ‘January God.
’ Another smaller figure, known as “the Lustyman” because it was found on Lusty More, a nearby island, is believed to be of a female figure. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Visitors can take a boat to Devenish Island, home to one of Northern Ireland’s most important monastic sites. The monastic site was founded in the 6th century by Saint Molaise.
There are ruins at the site from different time periods including a round tower, bell tower, and sever.
