Among the more than 100 islands which sit on Lough Erne, many remain uninhabited but one small island has been called home by a unique group of spiritualists since the 1980s.
Inis Rath is home to a small group of Hare Krishnas, in what is one of only three Krishna temples on the island of Ireland, with the others being in Belfast and Dublin.
Around 15 Hare Krishnas live on the 21 acre island permanently, with others visiting the island frequently for ceremonies and festivals.
READ MORE: Enniskillen Airport owner determined to keep it alive as a resource to the local community
First purchased by the group in 1985 at a time when property prices in many areas of Northern Ireland had plummeted due to the Troubles, the group remains there and opens up the island regularly to visitors from the mainland.
The philosophy of the Hare Krishnas centres on a few tenets around spirituality and a rejection of the excesses of materialism - everyone in the movement is vegetarian and there is a major emphasis on self-sufficiency.
One of the island’s temple council, Manu Das, or Martin Davis as he was formerly known, told Belfast Live that the lakelands of Fermanagh has been an ideal location for their small community of Krishnas.
“I would say the island here is like our spiritual centre because this is a replica of one of the most holy places in India, place called Vrindavan where Krishna appeared five thousand years ago.
“The monks previously would come to these places, there is an incredible energy here and it’s been built up over all that time.
“It works very well with Fermanagh because the lakelands here are phenomenal, the trees here are beautiful, the deer are here. It’s a very tranquil, incredibly apt place to meditate in.”
Manu is not a full-time resident but regularly makes the trip from his home in Dublin, where he owns an art gallery.
He was first attracted to the faith over 40 years ago and was one of the instrumental figures in the organisation acquiring the island for £120,000 in 1985.
A typical day for those who have made Inis Rath their home include a 3.30am start and a two hour continuous chant of the Hare Krishna prayer.
Many of those who reside there permanently originally come from Eastern Europe and other far-flung corners of the globe, helping out with daily tasks such as maintenance of the Victorian house and grounds.
The island and its inhabitants are funded by a small group of select donors, whose names are adorned on the wall at the entrance to the house.
Manu says the Hare Krishna movement is becoming ever more relevant in the modern day as people begin to realise the value of their mental and spiritual health.
He said: “I think these places are going to become very important for people in the future to take time out, if they ever get time out.
“I think a lot of bigger companies are starting to realise that people’s mental health, their spiritual health are vital. Otherwise what’s the use in life, just to be a pawn in some machine that keeps on churning out useless items which you don’t need?
READ MORE: Queen’s visit to Enniskillen recognised as ‘tremendous acknowledgement’ by clergymen
“Our founder called them ‘unnecessary necessities’ - everyone thinks they need them but they don’t.
“There needs to be quite a big change in society for people to really understand why we’re here and what we’re meant to do here.”
Originally owned by Lord Erne, the island was sold to an army general in the 1850s who kept ownership of it for around 100 years before it passed through several different owners in the mid 1900s.
Manu says while there had been initial suspicion from some when the Hare Krishnas first moved to Inis Rath, in the present day the relationship with other locals has developed into a a positive one.
“Originally Lord Erne had a hunting lodge on the island but then in 1850 he sold it to a major in the army by the name of Beresford.
“They looked after it for about a hundred years and they built this amazing house. It’s amazingly built because the sun rises in one spot and sets in another, it takes in the maximum amount of light that is available.
“They made it into a beautiful place, a beautiful island which is one of the things that attracted us here as a place for spiritual retreats.”
Video by Harry Bateman
READ NEXT:
MLA hits back at newspaper columnist over negative review of Fermanagh trip
Cost of living: Co Tyrone mum on her heartbreak as she can’t afford heating for daughter
Enniskillen cafe owner remembered as 'the most amazing person' ahead of charity events in her memory
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
