White Island, County Fermanagh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

White Island is an island in Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated in Castle Archdale Bay off the east shore of Lower Lough Erne.

The ruins of an ancient church are found near the shore, built on the site of an earlier monastic settlement. It still has an intact arched Romanesque doorway. The island is best known for its carved figures which sit in a line along the interior north wall of the church, most carved wearing the long tunics of churchmen. They are all carved in quartzite and were probably constructed between 800 and 1000, and were later used as building stones in the church, before being uncovered in recent centuries.

Helen Hickey has identified them as three pairs of caryatids. Each pair a different height and suggests that because of the sockets on the top of their heads that they may have supported a pulpit or preaching chair of an earlier possible wooden church. One popular theory is that the figures illustrate an episode in the life of St. Patrick, when Patrick heals a local King. This event is linked strongly with the Cathedral in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

There are eight figures in all, including an uncarved figure, suggesting the figures were carved on-site, and a frowning face, or "mask".

From left to right, the figures are as follows: The first figure is presumed to be a Sheela Na Gig, a statue of a naked female figure (although it cannot be discerned from the carving, due to the lack of detail), known to archaeologists as an ‘exhibitionist figure'. Common throughout Ireland as a supposedly magical creature, this grinning figure, with its hands resting on its thighs.

The second figure is a seated figure, presumed to represent a Christ figure. It is similar to a representation of a seated Christ in the Book of Kells, supporting Hickey’s view that the figures supported an Ambro (lectern or pulpit used by clergy to proclaim the Gospel).

The third figure is supposedly an abbot, or similarly highly ranking clerical figure. It is shown to be gooded, and holding a crook and a bell.

The fourth figure is possibly David with hand pointing to his mouth. This is a reference to David’s role as a psalmist. This figure is shown to be holding a scroll, and has a pouch hanging from its belt.

The fifth and sixth figures were identified by Hickey as Christ with Griffins and Christ the warrior with sword & shield respectively. The sixth figure is shown to be wearing a pennacular brooch of 9th or 10th century fashion.

The seventh figure is uncarved, and thus blank, and the eighth figure is a frowning head.

It is recorded in the Annals that the Vikings attacked and destroyed the monasteries in Lough Erne in A.D.837. For at least 400 years therefore these carvings may have laid in the ruins before a stone Romanesque style church was built.

The island is accessed by ferry from the marina in Castle Archdale Country Park, near Irvinestown.