Enniskillen, United Kingdom
Enniskillen is a town of 14,472 people in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Why visit Enniskillen
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 23 parks and trails, 46 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Devenish Island Round Tower, The Ritz, Castle Coole and Cole's Monument.
Weather in Enniskillen
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Enniskillen
Enniskillen ( EN-iss-KIL-ən, from Irish: Inis Ceithleann [ˈɪnʲɪʃ ˈcɛlʲən̪ˠ], 'Ceithlenn's island') is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the middle of the county, between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 14,086 at the 2021 census. Enniskillen Castle was built in the 15th century as a stronghold of the Maguires, before coming under English control in the early 17th century.
From the Wikipedia article Enniskillen (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Enniskillen on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Enniskillen
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks25
County Fermanagh War Memorial
Monument and historic site
World Wars memorial, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
The Ice House
Monument and historic site · 2.0 mi
Dating back to 1794, the Ice House is cone shaped with a vaulted top for hanging meat. When the pond froze, estates men would collect...
13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds23
11 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes46
The Jolly Sandwich
Cafe · Breakfast, Irish, Diner, Tea, Cake, Local, Coffee Shop
3 Darling Street, Enniskillen
Mo-Sa 08:00-16:00
White Rabbit
Cafe · Coffee Shop
30 Belmore Street, Enniskillen
Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00, Sa-Su 10:00-17:00
34 more on the map.
History
The town's oldest building is Enniskillen Castle, built by Hugh (Maguire) the Hospitable who died in 1428. An earthwork, the Skonce on the shore of Lough Erne, may be the remains of an earlier motte. The castle was the stronghold of the junior branch of the Maguires. The first watergate 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 its capture important for the English in 1593, to support their plans for the control of Ulster. The castle was besieged three times in 1594–95. The English, led by a Captain Dowdall, captured it in February 1594. Maguire then laid siege to it, and defeated a relieving force at the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits at Drumane Bridge on the Arney River. Although the defenders were relieved, Maguire gained possession of the castle from 1595 to 1598 and it was not finally captured by the English until 1607.
This was part of a wider campaign to bring the province of Ulster under English control; the final capture of Enniskillen Castle in 1607 was followed by the Plantation of Ulster, 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 in 1612.
Read more of the history
Captain Cole was installed as Constable and strengthened the castle wall and built a "fair house" on the old foundation as the centre point of the county town. The first Protestant parish church was erected on the hilltop in 1627. By 1630 the town had around 180 inhabitants, mostly comprising English and Scottish settlers. The Royal Free School of Fermanagh was moved onto the island in 1643. The first bridges were drawbridges; permanent bridges were not installed before 1688.
By 1689 the town had grown significantly. During the conflict which resulted from the ousting of 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.
Enniskillen and Derry were the two garrisons in Ulster that were not wholly loyal to James II, and it was the last town to fall before the Siege of Derry. 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.
The former site of Fermanagh College at Gaol Square (the college has now moved to the old Erne Hospital site) was the former Enniskillen Gaol. Many people were tried and hanged in the square during the times of public execution. Part of the old gaol is still standing. Enniskillen Town Hall was designed by William Scott and completed in 1901.
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 Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment). Enniskillen Castle features on the cap badge of both regiments.
Enniskillen was the site of several events during The Troubles, the most notable being the Remembrance Day bombing in November 1987 in which 11 people were killed. Bill Clinton opened The Clinton Centre in 2002 on the site of the bombing. The Provisional Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for the attack.
From the History section of Enniskillen on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Enniskillen
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.
Enniskillen Campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
From the Wikipedia article Enniskillen, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Enniskillen
Arlene FosterBritish politician (born 1970)Photo: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0
Michael McGovernNorthern Irish footballer (born 1984)Photo: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Adrian DunbarNorthern Irish actorPhoto: Brian O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0
George Fowler Hastingsofficer of the British Royal Navy (1814-1876)Photo: Collings, A. Esme (Photographer), Public domain- Kyle LaffertyNorthern Irish association footballer
- Roy CarrollNorthern Irish association football player
- Robert KerrCanadian athlete (1882–1963)
- James GambleBritish co-founder of Procter & Gamble
- Jim ClearyNorthern Irish footballer
- Denis Parsons BurkittBritish surgeon (1911-1993)
- Andrew LittleBritish footballer (born 1989)
- Ciarán McMenaminNorthern Irish actor
Born in Enniskillen, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay9
Churches and places of worship12
Shopping12
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries19
South West College - Technology & Skills Centre
School · 1.1 mi
Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, Enniskillen
Healthcare3
Map of Enniskillen
162 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Enniskillen Airport (ENK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Ballinamallard 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Irvinestown 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Lisnaskea 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
- Dromore 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Fivemiletown 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
- Newtownbutler 16 mi southeast, about 26 min by car
- Omagh 22 mi northeast, about 36 min by car
- Strabane 34 mi north, about 54 min by car
- Derry 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Portadown 48 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Enniskillen
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Enniskillen Castle, Raymond Millar, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Castle-Coole-IR, Daisymoo90?, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DevenishCollegeEnniskillen, Dean Molyneaux, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Portora Castle, Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St michaels 93, Ennis461, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Enniskillen St. Michael's Church SW 2012 09 17, Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South West Acute Hospital near Enniskillen, Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Devenish Island Teampall Mór 2016 08 28, Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castle Coole 27 August 2022, Lucius Winslow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Enniskillen Castle by Paride, Romeparis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- EnniskillenCathedral, JohnArmagh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Devenish Island Round Tower 2016 08 28, Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noelb, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ghand01, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noelb, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, debigc, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mackerski, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noelb, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, debigc, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noelb, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
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