Janus Figure, Boa Island

Janus Figure / Boa Island Figure / Dreenan Figure This very well-known stone figure has been sitting in the rural graveyard at Caldragh, in Dreenan, on Boa Island since at least 1841. For many years the scholarly opinion was that it belonged to the pagan Iron Age. The statue has often been described, wrongly, as a Janus figure – Janus being a Roman god who could look in many directions. But this is not a figure with two faces but two complete, more or less identical figures placed back to back. Each side of the figure has a face and torso. On the sides of the stone where the two carved figures are joined is an interlace design that may represent hair. The faces are large and pointed ovals in shape, with big eyes, straight noses, and half-open mouths with protruding tongues above the pointed chins. The figure has no neck, with its head resting directly on its torso. The torso is a square block with hunched shoulders, crossed arms, and a belt. The lower section of the figure—two hands with elongated fingers carved in relief—was broken away from the top part at an unknown time in the past. This base was recently discovered half-buried in the ground close to the figure. It likely represents an unpleasant and frightening figure of mythology and folklore, identifying with the war goddess Badhbh – the hooded crow. This view, based on the appearance of the figures, is given extra credibility by the fact that the name Boa Island comes from the Irish Inis Badhbha – ‘Badhbh’s Island’. The Lustymore Man The smaller figure is called the ‘Lustymore Man’ and was found on the neighbouring Lustymore Island. It appears to be more weathered and more plainly carved. This figure is only one-sided but has a lot of similarities with the larger figure. It seems to also depict a man with a straight nose and open mouth, and its arms are resting upon its knees. Directions From Enniskillen to Boa Island Statues: Head northwest on the A32, continue onto the B82, then follow signs for Boa Island/Kesh. Approx. 30 minutes drive.

attractions

Boa Island