Enniskillen – Co. Fermanagh In Northern Ireland
Enniskillen – Co. Fermanagh is the county town, and also the largest town in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It is the current seat of local government for Fermanagh District Council.
The town of Enniskillen is built on an island which lies between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. This area is sometimes called Northern Ireland’s Lake District. It is an attractive area to visit and tourism is important economically to the whole district. Near Enniskillen are the National Trust property Florencecourt house, and the natural limestone caverns of Marble Arch caves. It is also not far to Belleek, site of the Belleek Pottery. Belleek Pottery produces fine parian china which is collected all over the world.
The Northern Ireland Lake District has a well deserved reputation for its natural beauty. Upper and Lower Lough Erne are ideal for many water activities. Water skiing and cruising are both popular here. Many small islands dot the two loughs (or lakes). One island is the site of one of the best preserved monastic remains in Ireland. The monastery on Devenish Island dates from the sixth century when it was founded by St Molaise. The round tower which can be seen there is from the twelfth century. Also there are the walls of the oratory of the founding saint.
Originally Enniskillen was a stronghold of the Maguire family, a clan of Gaelic lords. Hugh Maguire built a stone castle there in the fifteenth century, but there are some remains of what might be an older earthwork castle. The stone castle is the town’s oldest building. During the Elizabethan Wars the English captured the castle, but the Maguires regained possession somehow, before losing it a final time in 1607 during the reign of James I. This was the time of the Plantation of Ulster and James’ plan was to replace the Gaelic rulers with English and Scottish settlers. William Cole, a Londoner, came to Enniskillen as Constable at this time.
The importance of Enniskillen was greatly increased by William Cole. He rebuilt the castle, built two bridges, built himself a family house nearby, built the public buildings needed by an important Plantation town, and built many of the houses as well. Cole introduced settlers and their families from England and Scotland to do this work, and to live in the town. Mainly thanks to Cole the town had grown into an important center by 1688 when the Williamite Wars started.
In 1688 the town was one of the main centers of resistance by William III’s supporters against the deposed King James II. Forces from Enniskillen fought and won at the Battle of Newtonbutler, and as a result of the conflict two regiments from Enniskillen became adopted into the British Army, eventually becoming the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Sixth Dragoons (Inniskilling). The Inniskilling’s Regimental Museum is in Enniskillen Castle.
Note that Inniskilling is an old spelling of Enniskillen. Both Inniskilling and Enniskillen are Anglicized versions derived from the Irish name Inis Ceithleann which means “Ceithlenn’s island”.
