INISH RATH ISLAND is located north-west of Crom Estate on Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh.
It used to be called Coney Island and, more recently, it has become known as Krishna Island.
In 1915 the island comprised 23 acres.
The Victorian-Tudor style house on the island (above) was built in 1854 by the Hon Henry Cavendish Butler-Danvers (1811-91), a half-brother of the 5TH EARL OF LANESBOROUGH, of Lanesborough Lodge, near Belturbet, County Cavan.
It was subsequently purchased by the Earl of Erne for use as a hunting lodge.
During the early 20th century, the house was used for boating parties etc.
The island went through continuous change of ownership for about thirty years, when it was bought and sold.
At the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles, in 1982, property prices slumped in this border area.
A group of Hare Krishna monks, led by a German follower, Prithu Das, pooled their resources and took out a bank loan to buy Inish Rath, a perfect setting for a Hare Krishna centre.
The Hare Krishna temple was established in the west wing of the house with a magnificent gold altar at one end of the long room and a life size representation of Swami Prabhupada at the other.
Oriental arches frame the windows and polished pine floors add to the overall feeling of light and space.
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| Inish Rath ca 1915 (OSNI Historic Map) |
It was subsequently purchased by the Earl of Erne for use as a hunting lodge.
During the early 20th century, the house was used for boating parties etc.
The island went through continuous change of ownership for about thirty years, when it was bought and sold.
At the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles, in 1982, property prices slumped in this border area.
 |
| Inish Rath (image: Hare Krishna) |
A group of Hare Krishna monks, led by a German follower, Prithu Das, pooled their resources and took out a bank loan to buy Inish Rath, a perfect setting for a Hare Krishna centre.
The Hare Krishna temple was established in the west wing of the house with a magnificent gold altar at one end of the long room and a life size representation of Swami Prabhupada at the other.
Oriental arches frame the windows and polished pine floors add to the overall feeling of light and space.
The BBC has produced a short video clip of life on the island more recently.
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