Joe visits the island of Belle Isle on Upper Lough Erne
in County Fermanagh. He gives a history of the island and how it passed to the
Gore family after the Flight of the Earls. Local historian Joe Crawford tours
the grounds of the island stately home and talks about its builder John Grey
Vesey Porter. Joe looks through old books recording the island's hunting with
dogs and visits a dog graveyard on the island. Maureen Magee and John McManus
share their memories of growing up on Belle Isle as their father worked the
estate for the Porter family.
Joe visits the grave
of Cathal Og McManus, author of 'The Annals of Ulster'. He speaks to Brian
McManus about the clan gathering which was organised for the 500th anniversary
of his Cathal Og's death. Joe takes to the water on a cruiser with Charles Plunkett,
estate manager of Belle Isle who explains how lower water levels on the lough
have altered the coastline of the islands and complicated their ownership. Joe
walks under an arch on the island made from the huge jawbone of a whale. Joe
observes an eel farmer, Bob Phair, at work on the lough. Joe then visits Liz
Moore at her cookery school to see the eels being cooked with stinging nettles
and Guinness.