Enniskillen

 

(ĕnĭskĭl'ən) , town (1991 pop. 10,429), Fermanagh dist., SW Northern Ireland, on Cethlin's Island in the Erne River between Upper and Lower Loughs Erne. Farm produce is traded, and hosiery is manufactured. In 1689 the forces of William III defeated those of James II at Enniskillen.

Enniskillen Irish - Inis Ceithleann
Population	13,599 (2001 Census)
Irish grid reference	H240440
- Belfast	88 miles
District	Fermanagh District Council
County	County Fermanagh
Constituent country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ENNISKILLEN
Postcode district	BT74, BT92-94
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Fermanagh and South Tyrone
European Parliament	Northern Ireland
Website: http://www.enniskillen.com/
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • County Fermanagh

Coordinates: 54°′″N 7°′″W / 54.345, -7.64

Enniskillen (from the Irish: Inis Ceithleann meaning "Kathleen's Island") is the county town (and largest town) in County Fermanagh and the west of Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county on the natural island which separates 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 13,599 people in the 2001 census, 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

Early history

The island was captured by the English in 1607, as part of a wider campaign to bring the province of Ulster under English control. The Plantation of Ulster followed during which the lands of the native Irish were seized and handed over to English planters loyal to the Crown. The Maguires were supplanted by William Cole, originally from Devon, who was appointed by James I to build an English settlement there. In 1689 the town had grown significantly and was subjected to a siege by Jacobite troops, during the conflict which resulted from the ousting of King James II by his Protestant rival, William III. This siege was successfully resisted. 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. These events also sowed the seeds for the conflict which engulfed Northern Ireland during the latter half of the 20th century, commonly referred to as The Troubles.

Military history

Enniskillen is the site of the foundation of two British Army regiments:

• Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
• 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

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

For more information see The Troubles in Enniskillen, which includes a list of incidents in Enniskillen during the Troubles resulting in fatalities. The most notorious incident was the Remembrance Day bombing in 1987 which left eleven people dead following the detonation of a Provisional Irish Republican Army time bomb.

Demographics

Enniskillen is classified as a Medium Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (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: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Places of interest

• Ardhowen Theatre
• Castle Coole
• Cole's Monument
• Enniskillen Castle
• Portora Royal School
• St Macartin's Cathedral
• The Diamond and Town Hall
• The Clinton Centre
• St. Michael's College (Enniskillen)
• Collegiate Grammar School (Enniskillen)

International events

In recent years, Enniskillen has hosted an array of international events, most notably, stages of the World Waterski World Cup annually since 2005, at the Broadmeadow. It is anticipated that the event will return for a fourth time in 2008. 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).

People

The following are people born or raised 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.

• Neil Hannon, Lead singer/composer of the pop band The Divine Comedy
• Gary Beckett, semi-professional football player for Derry City
• Samuel Beckett, playwright, educated at Portora Royal School
• Roy Carroll, goalkeeper for Rangers
• Adrian Dunbar, actor, born and brought up in Enniskillen
• Neil Hannon, singer and songwriter, educated at Portora Royal School
• Frank Hoy, professional wrestler, was born in the town
• David Robinson, photographer and publisher, educated at Potora Royal School
• Edward Kernan, bishop Roman Catholic
• Kyle Lafferty, Striker, Professional football player for Burnley and Northern Ireland International.
• Charles Lawson, actor (Coronation Street and other roles)
• 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
• Michael McGovern, goalkeeper, currently on the books of Celtic
• Kieran McKenna, midfielder, currently on the books of Tottenham Hotspur
• Ciarán McMenamin, TV 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 richest man, reared at the family's estate at Ely Lodge
• Oscar Wilde, satirist and playwright, educated at Portora Royal School
• David McCann,author of children's books

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

• Erne Integrated College
• Devenish College (a collaboration of Enniskillen High School and the Duke of Westminster College in Kesh)
• Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School
• Portora Royal School
• Mount Lourdes Enniskillen; convent girls grammar school
• St Michael's College; boys grammar school
• St Fanchea's College
• St Joseph's College

Colleges

• Enniskillen College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
• Fermanagh College

Transport

Until 1957, the town was served by a branch of the SL&NCR railway. 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.

References

• Culture Northern Ireland
• International Water Ski Federation 2007
• Enniskillen Gaels GFC

External links

• Enniskillen.Com
• Enniskillen Hotels

See also

• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• Battle of Newtownbutler

Major towns in Northern Ireland
Towns	Antrim · Ballymena · Banbridge · Bangor · Carrickfergus · Coleraine · Cookstown · Craigavon · Dundonald · Enniskillen · Holywood · Larne · Limavady · Lurgan · Newtownabbey · Newtownards · Omagh · Portadown · Strabane

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