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Enniskillen
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Enniskillen is the county town (and largest town) in County Fermanagh. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. The elected MP (Member of Parliament) over this area is Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew MP MLA.
With a population of over 13,000, it is by far the largest settlement in the county as well as the main retail centre. It is also the seat of local government for Fermanagh District Council.
earliest building is the Maguire's stone castle, built by Hugh the Hospitable who died in 1428.
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Encyclopedia
Enniskillen is the county town (and largest town) in County Fermanagh. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. The elected MP (Member of Parliament) over this area is Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew MP MLA.
With a population of over 13,000, it is by far the largest settlement in the county as well as the main retail centre. It is also the seat of local government for Fermanagh District Council.
History
The earliest building is the Maguire's stone castle, built by Hugh the Hospitable who died in 1428. An earthwork, the Skonce on the lough shore, may the remains of an earlier motte. The castle was the stronghold of the junior branch of the Maguires. The first water-gate was built around 1580 by Cú Chonnacht Maguire, though subsequent lowering of the level of the lough has left it without water. The strategic position of the castle made it important for the English to capture in 1593 for their plantation plans which was achieved by a Captain Dowdall. Maguire then laid siege to it and defeated a relieving force at the Battle of the Ford of the Bicuits at Drumane Bridge. Although the defenders were relieved, Maguire was in possession of the castle from 1595-8 and it wasn't till 1607 that it was finally captured by the English.
This was part of a wider campaign to bring the province of Ulster under English control; there had been a major siege of Enniskillen Castle in 1594. The Plantation of Ulster followed during which the lands of the native Irish were seized and handed over to planters loyal to the English Crown. The Maguires were supplanted by William Cole, originally from Devon, who was appointed by James I to build an English settlement there.
Captain Cole was installed as Constable and strengthened the castle wall and built a "fair house" on the old foundation as the centrepoint of the county town. The first Protestand parish church was erected on the hilltop in 1627. The Royal Free School of Fermanagh was moved onto the island in 1643. The first bridges were drawbridges and permanent bridges were not installed before 1688.
By 1689 the town had grown significantly. During the conflict which resulted from the ousting of King James II by his Protestant rival, William III, Enniskillen and Derry were the focus of Williamite resistance in Ireland, including the nearby Battle of Newtownbutler.
As a direct result of this conflict Enniskillen developed not only as a market town but also as a garrison which became home to two regiments.
Military history
Enniskillen is the site of the foundation of two British Army regiments:
The town's name (with the archaic spelling) continues to form part of the title to the The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment).
The Troubles
The Remembrance Day Bombing (8 November 1987) was one of the most notable events of The Troubles. Thirteen people were killed and hundreds injured as a result of an IRA bomb. The IRA later claimed that their target was a colour guard of British soldiers. At the same time as the Enniskillen bombing, the IRA also planted a bomb 20 miles away in Tullyhommon, near Pettigo, where the Boys' Brigade and the Girls' Brigade were due to participate in a Remembrance Day service. The bomb failed to detonate, preventing the further loss of innocent life. The Enniskillen bomb is acknowledged by some as a turning point in the Northern Ireland peace process.
For more information see The Troubles in Enniskillen, which includes a list of incidents in Enniskillen during the Troubles resulting in fatalities.
Miscellaneous
The Irish singer / songwriter Tommy Makem wrote a lighthearted song about the town, "Fare Thee Well, Enniskillen," covered by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem and The Dubliners.
The Chieftains sing a song that mentions Enniskillin titled "North Amerikay".
Demographics
Enniskillen is classified as a medium town by the (ie with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On census day (29 April 2001) there were 13,599 people living in Enniskillen.
- 23.2% were aged under 16 years and 17.4% were aged 60 and over
- 48.1% of the population were male and 51.9% were female
- 61.5% were from a Roman Catholic background and 36.3% were from a Protestant background
- 5.2% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see:
Places of interest
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International events
In recent years, Enniskillen has hosted an array of international events, most notably, stages of the World Waterski World Cup annually from 2005 to 2007, at the Broadmeadow. Despite its success, Enniskillen was not chosen as a World Cup Stop for 2008, and whether or not it will return in 2009 is unclear.
Also, a Pro wakeboard competition, 'Wakejam', took place between July 27 and July 29 2007, where top riders from around the world, as well as local riders, took part in the event, hosted by Erne Wakeboard Club (EWC).
In January 2009, Enniskillen hosted the ceremonial start of Rally Ireland 2009, the first stage of the WRC FIA World Rally Championship 2009 Calendar.
People
The following are people born or brought up in or around Enniskillen. Locally, people are only considered to be truly from Enniskillen if they were born "between the bridges", i.e. on the island.
- Oscar Wilde, satirist and playwright, educated at Portora Royal School
- Neil Hannon, lead singer/composer of the pop band The Divine Comedy educated at Portora Royal School
- Samuel Beckett, playwright, educated at Portora Royal School
- Roy Carroll, goalkeeper for Derby County FC
- Adrian Dunbar, actor, born and brought up in Enniskillen
- Frank Hoy, professional wrestler, was born in the town
- David Robinson, photographer and publisher, educated at Portora Royal School
- Edward Kernan, a Roman Catholic bishop
- Kyle Lafferty, striker, professional football player for Rangers and Northern Ireland international.
- Charles Lawson, most notable for playing Jim McDonald in Coronation Street
- Rodney Edwards, journalist, broadcaster and columnist
- Henry Francis Lyte, hymn composer, most notably Abide With Me, educated at Portora Royal School
- Nial Fulton, film and television producer, educated at Portora Royal School
- Bobby Kerr, Olympic 100 m gold medalist in the 1908 Olympics for Canada
- Michael McGovern, goalkeeper, currently with Dundee United F.C.
- Kieran McKenna, midfielder, currently with Tottenham Hotspur
- Ciarán McMenamin, television actor
- Frank Ormsby, poet
- Claire Falconer, actress and painter
- Seán Quinn, entrepreneur and Ireland's richest man (originally from Derrylin)
- Duke of Westminster, formerly the UK's richest man, brought up at the family's estate at Ely Lodge
- David McCann, author of children's books
- Mick Softley singer and song writer for Bob Dylan, currently lives in the town
- Gordon Wilson (peace campaigner), peace campaigner and Irish senator
- Ron Wilson (newsreader) is a news anchor with Network Ten in Australia
- E Charles Nelson, Botanist and Botanical Author, educated at Portora Royal School
- John White, Royal Navy, Surgeon General New South Wales (1788), Sailed in First Fleet HMS Sirius. Educated at Portora Royal School.
- Gavin Noble, Irish international triathlete.
Education
There are numerous schools and colleges in and around the Enniskillen area, from primary level to secondary level, including some further education colleges such as the technical college.
Primary level
- Erne Integrated Primary school
- Model primary school
- Holy Trinity Primary School
- Jones Memorial Primary School
- Saint Patrick's Primary School, Mullanaskea
Secondary level
Colleges
- Enniskillen College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
- Enniskillen Campus South West College
Transport
Until 1957, the town was a junction on the Great Northern Railway and had rail links to Clones, Omagh and Bundoran, and the shared station was the eastern terminus of the SL&NCR railway, which ran passenger and freight services to Sligo. There is extensive bus service in Enniskillen; both Ulsterbus and Bus Eireann serve Fermanagh through the main bus station in Enniskillen. The town is also home to a World War II era airport, Enniskillen/St Angelo Airport. While the airport had scheduled flights in the past, it now serves mainly private traffic.
Twinning
Enniskillen is twinned with Bielefeld, Germany. Enniskillen was originally twinned with Brackwede - a Bielefeld suburb - where the Inniskillen Dragoon Guards were stationed at the end of World War II ; however, this suburb was incorporated into Stadt Bielefeld in 1973, the city with which Enniskillen is now officially twinned.
See also
External links
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