Welcome to Cleenish

Saint Sinell, ‘the holiest man in Ireland,’ was ‘noted for his holiness and understanding of all sacred teaching.’ Sinell is believed to have been an expert in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Many important monks, later saints, were educated by Sinell, including St. Columbanus (560-615). Students travelled great distances to study under Sinell at Cleenish. Columbanus undertook a strict path of learning, composing a commentary on the Psalms and writing poetry.

Cleenish or Claoin Inis, the ‘inclining island’ or ‘sloping island’, was a significant monastic site and centre of learning. Although nothing of the original structure survives above ground, it is thought to have been located in the southern area of the graveyard.  The Annals of Ulster note that Cleenish was used as a hospitium or a guesthouse. In 1427, the Annals record the death of Joan Maguire (wife of the Archdeacon of Clogher). Joan had kept the guesthouse at Cleenish and Rossorry for 56 years. Such guesthouses were dotted along the Pilgrim Way.

By the close of the 18th century the stones from the church had been taken and were used to build Nixon Hall, now demolished. Many of the stones from Cleenish were brought to Enniskillen, most notably during the building of the military barracks in Queen Street. William Wakeman describes ‘God’s acre’ at Cleenish as a ‘vast wilderness of weeds. But one memorial of the ancient monastery remains – all others having, we are informed, been carried away in cots as building materials for the fort and barrack now standing upon Cole’s Hill, Enniskillen.’

Look out for the wren, ‘The King of Birds’ at the site. The wren is a tiny bird with a remarkably loud voice. The wren has a place in folklore throughout the world. When all of the birds gathered in a secret valley to decide which of them should be king it was decided that the crown would go to the bird that flew the highest. The eagle soared way above all others, only to discover that a wren had ridden on his back. The wren launched itself above the eagle and was ‘The King of Birds’.

This website has more information about the wren or by its scientific name, ‘troglodytes troglodytes’.