We visited this island yesterday. It's one of 100 or so in Lough Erne. There is a bridge to it now but in 1914 - 1918 when the servicemen returned from WW1 there was not. British Govt built two story stone homes for the returnees & 35 - 40 acres (which they could rent for one pound an acre a year). They had farms - mainly dairy cows & the Creamery in nearby Beenanaleck would collect the milk (pulled over in containers in dugout along a rope, joining 'them' to the 'mainland'). Floods & a terrible storm wiped out the farmers. There are still 5 - 6 derelict houses left.
Cleenish was also a monastic settlement from the 6th century! It was a place of learning and culture. There is an ancient graveyard (moss covered tombstones). Today there are numerous farms & great views.
Some black calves didn't mind us sharing the road & once over the bridge there were pheasants everywhere! We had lunch at the local jetty - fisherman across the lough & two boats putted by!
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