|
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| Home > About Us |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» FAQs » Press Office |
|
About UsThe name "Lusty Beg" is a derivation of the Gaelic for small and fertile. ( Spelt 'Lusteabeg') until fairly recently.. The closest Island "Lusty Mor", (large, fertile) was in the past connected to Lusty Beg by a causeway.In fact it is still sometimes possible to wade across when the water level is low. This island is now a bird sanctuary. It was claimed that it was on this island that the second Boa Island figure was dug up in recent times but there is still some confusion as to whether the figure originally came from there or Lusty Beg. Cruninish Island, seen from the front of the bar, is a grassy island bare of trees and apparently no trees have ever grown on it for some reason. It is not known why but it is possibly associated with the nature of the soil. People from Boa Island were buried here in times of plague and famine but only on the part facing away from Boa Island. There is no trace of it having been occupied and there is a ring barrow or circular burial mound from prehistoric times. Both Lusty Beg and Lusty Mor are said to have been cultivated by monks in early days. The tradition is that Lusty Beg was once three islands, and that the monks, the agricultural pioneers of Ireland, filled in the land between the islets to make one fair sized holding. Some low earth-and-stone banks may be the remains of a former monastic settlement on the north shore of the island. There is the small 'purgatory Island', west of Lusty Beg, which may have been a retreat or penitential place in the days of the monks used by themselves and visiting pilgrims from the monastery on Saint's island on nearby Lough Derg. There are the ruins of a corn kiln on the island. This must have dried grain for Boa island since there would never have been enough grain here to keep it fully employed. A plentiful supply of timber was probably the reason for having it here. Lots of the grain dried here was later used in the making of illicit spirit - poiteen. One group of rocks located at the end of this western leg of the island forms a great seat or throne, and it is suggested that this was Maguire's seat from where he received his rent from local clansmen. There are 20 interesting fossilised prehistoric animal footprints on the south shore ( Behind the Lodges). These are only visible now at very low water. About a mile due South of Lusty Beg is the deepest point of Lough Erne. Measured in the 1940's, it was found to be 208 feet deep. Historically, most of the larger islands on Lough Erne would have been inhabited. Firstly, it offered more security for the people, their crops and their livestock and secondly, although settlements were largely self sufficient, transport by water was the main means of moving supplies and livestock as the land was densely wooded. During the late 19th Century, Lusty Beg was the home of Richard Allingham, brother of the Ballyshannon poet, William Allingham. His cottage, known as 'Ned's cottage' has now been restored and houses the thatched seminar rooms beside the marina. During the early 20th Century Lady Hunt from Alberta Canada owned both Lusty Beg and Lusty Mor. Her residence on Lusty Beg burned down soon after construction after she had moved from Lusty Mor. The remains of her grand residence (Glenavar House) on Lusty Mor are worth a visit, particularly for the fantastic elevated view it has over the lake and islands around it. A huge amount of money was spent on building this house and it was surrounded by beautiful gardens dotted with statues. She is remembered as a colourful character and introduced local children to delicacies such as oranges, sweets and 'shop' apples at the Christmas parties she held for them. After the island was sold the roof of the house and it's fittings were taken away to build a house near Ballinamallard. Lady Hunt moved to Jersey and survived the German occupation there and died at an advanced age. During the 1950's a British Officer, stationed in Aden, read about 'an idyllic' island for sale. He asked his wife to travel from London to view it and Lusty Beg was purchased before his return. However, life was far from idyllic. They had the hardship of taking their children across to the mainland to school every day by rowing boat whatever the weather. They also faced the problem of farming without the benifits of modern machinery as transport across the strip of water was virtually impossible. Because of this and the relatively small size of cleared farmland they found it difficult to make a living. Thus, they began to open the island to visitors. They made the area which is now the main bar into a dining room, building the fireplace from stone collected on the island and constructed the first chalet for hire. During the 1960's the island was purchased by an hotelier from Bangor and it is from this stage that it's development as a holiday destination really began. Despite the changes, Lusty Beg still maintains it's very special character by being separated from the mainland by a small strip of water.
|
 |
|||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Accommodation
| Facilities | Conference
Centre | Weddings | Location
| About Us | Special
Offers | sitemap | Home
|
