Boa Island, Ancient island in Lower Lough Erne, Northern Ireland
Boa Island runs about 5 miles long through Lower Lough Erne and connects to the mainland via two road bridges at Castle Caldwell and Kesh. The A47 road crosses the full length of the island, giving access to the Caldragh cemetery with its early stone figures and other archaeological remains.
The Caldragh cemetery holds stone figures carved between 400 and 800 AD, a time when early Irish cultures were recording their beliefs in stone. The Dreenan figure, carved with both male and female sides, marks an important moment in how people were expressing themselves through this art.
The island's name comes from Badhbha, a war goddess in Irish mythology, showing the Celtic roots deep in this region. The carved figures at Caldragh reveal how ancient people expressed beliefs about male and female through stone, shaping how later visitors would understand this place.
The island is easy to reach by car since the A47 road runs across it and reaches both cemetery sites directly. Wear comfortable shoes for walking to the stone figures, as some paths are not paved and weather can change quickly around the water.
Between the carved heads of the Dreenan figure sits an interlace pattern where visitors have placed coins for generations. This quiet custom persists today, showing how people still connect with these ancient carvings in their own small way.
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