County Fermanagh

"Fermanagh" redirects here. For other uses, see Fermanagh (disambiguation).

County Fermanagh Contae Fhear Manach Coontie Fermanagh
Coat of arms of County Fermanagh Coat of arms
Motto: Feor Magh Eanagh
Country	United Kingdom
Region	Northern Ireland
Province	Ulster
County town	Enniskillen
Area
• Total	715 sq mi (1,851 km2)
Area rank	25th
Population (est. 2011)	61,805
• Rank	28th
Contae Fhear Manach is the Irish name; Countie Fermanagh, Coontie Fermanagh and Coontie Fermanay are Ulster Scots spellings (the latter used only by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council).

County Fermanagh (/fərˈmænə/ fər-MA-nə; from Irish: Fir Manach or Fear Manach, meaning "men of Manach") is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. The county covers an area of 1,691 km² (653 sq mi) and has a population of about 61,805. Enniskillen is the county town and largest in both size and population. Fermanagh is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland and is within the historic province of Ulster.

Fermanagh is one of four counties of Northern Ireland to have a majority of its population from a Catholic background, according to the 2011 census.

Geography

Fermanagh borders County Tyrone to the north-east, County Monaghan to the south-east, County Cavan to the south-west, County Leitrim to the west and County Donegal to the north-west. The county town, Enniskillen, is the largest settlement in Fermanagh, situated in the middle of the county.

It is mainly rural and is situated largely in the basin of the River Erne. It is dominated by two connected lakes: Upper and Lower Lough Erne, and, including water, spans an area of 1,851 km² (715 sq; mi). It is approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Belfast and 160 km (99 mi) from Dublin.

Fermanagh accounts for 13.2% of land mass of Northern Ireland and 30% of Fermanagh is covered with lakes and waterways.

History

The Annals of Ulster which cover medieval Ireland between AD 431 to AD 1540 were written at Belle Isle on Lough Erne near Lisbellaw.

Fermanagh was a stronghold of the Maguire clan and Donn Carrach Maguire (died 1302) was the first of the chiefs of the Maguire dynasty. However on the confiscation of lands relating to Hugh Maguire, Fermanagh was divided in similar manner to the other five escheated counties among Scottish and English undertakers and native Irish. The baronies of Knockninny and Magheraboy were allotted to Scottish undertakers, those of Clankelly, Magherastephana and Lurg to English undertakers and those of Clanawley, Coole, and Tyrkennedy, to servitors and natives. The chief families to benefit under the new settlement were the families of Cole, Blennerhasset, Butler, Hume, and Dunbar.

Fermanagh was made into a county by statute of Elizabeth I, but it was not until the time of the Plantation of Ulster that it was finally brought under civil government.

Administration

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1653	5,498	—
1659	7,102	+29.2%
1821	130,997	+1744.5%
1831	149,763	+14.3%
1841	156,481	+4.5%
1851	116,047	−25.8%
1861	105,768	−8.9%
1871	92,794	−12.3%
1881	84,879	−8.5%
1891	74,170	−12.6%
1901	65,430	−11.8%
1911	61,836	−5.5%
1926	57,984	−6.2%
1937	54,569	−5.9%
1951	53,044	−2.8%
1961	51,531	−2.9%
1966	49,886	−3.2%
1971	50,255	+0.7%
1981	51,594	+2.7%
1991	54,033	+4.7%
2001	57,527	+6.5%
2011	61,170	+6.3%

Fermanagh District Council used to be the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contained all of the county it was named after. After the re-organisation of local government in 2015, Fermanagh was still the only county wholly within one council area, namely Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Fermanagh is part of the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Parliamentary Constituency, renowned for high levels of voting and for electing Provisional IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands as a member of parliament in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981, shortly before his death.

Industry and tourism

Agriculture and tourism are two of the most important industries in Fermanagh. The main types of farming in the area are beef, dairy, sheep, pigs and some poultry. Most of the agricultural land is used as grassland for grazing and silage or hay rather than for other crops.

The waterways are extensively used by cabin cruisers, other small pleasure craft and anglers. The main town of Fermanagh is Enniskillen (Inis Ceithleann, 'Ceithleann's island'). The island town hosts a range of attractions including the Castle Coole Estate and Enniskillen Castle, which is home to the museum of The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards.

Attractions outside Enniskillen include:

• Belleek Pottery
• Castle Archdale
• Crom Estate
• Devenish Island
• Florence Court
• Marble Arch Caves

Settlements

Large towns

(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)

• none

Medium towns

(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)

• Enniskillen

Small towns

(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)

• none

Intermediate settlements

(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)

• Lisnaskea

Villages

(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)

• Ballinamallard
• Irvinestown
• Lisbellaw

Small villages or hamlets

(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)

• Belcoo
• Bellanaleck
• Belleek
• Boho
• Brookeborough
• Derrygonnelly
• Derrylin
• Ederney
• Garrison
• Kesh
• Maguiresbridge
• Newtownbutler
• Rosslea
• Teemore
• Tempo

Subdivisions

Baronies

Baronies of County Fermanagh within Northern Ireland with civil parish boundaries

Main article: Baronies of Ireland

• Clanawley
• Clankelly
• Coole
• Knockninny
• Lurg
• Magheraboy
• Magherastephana
• Tirkennedy

Parishes

Main article: List of civil parishes of County Fermanagh

Townlands

Main article: List of townlands in County Fermanagh

Media

Newspapers

• The Fermanagh Herald
• The Impartial Reporter

Sport

Fermanagh born Goalkeeper Roy Carroll playing with Derby County.

Main article: Fermanagh GAA

Fermanagh GAA has never won a Senior Provincial or an All-Ireland title in any Gaelic games.

Only Ballinamallard United F.C. take part in the Northern Ireland football league system. All other Fermanagh clubs play in the Fermanagh & Western FA league systems. Fermanagh Mallards F.C. played in the Women's Premier League until 2013. Famous Football players from Fermanagh include Roy Carroll, Harry Chatton, Barry Owens and Kyle Lafferty.

Notable people

Famous people born, raised in or living in Fermanagh. (Please make additions in alphabetical order.)

• John Armstrong (1717–1795), born in Fermanagh, Major General in the Continental Army and delegate in the Continental Congressman
• Samuel Beckett (1906–1989), author and playwright (educated in Portora Royal School)
• Denis Parsons Burkitt (1911–1993), doctor – discoverer of Burkitt's lymphoma
• Roy Carroll (1977– ), association footballer
• Edward Cooney (1867–1960), evangelist and early leader of the Cooneyite and Go-Preachers
• Brian D'Arcy (1945– ), C.P. Passionist priest and media personality
• Brendan Dolan (1973– ), Professional darts player for the PDC
• Adrian Dunbar (1958– ), actor
• Neil Hannon (1970– ), musician
• Robert Kerr (1882–1963), athlete & Olympic Gold Medalist
• Kyle Lafferty (1987– ), Northern Ireland International association footballer
• Charles Lawson (1959– ), actor (plays Jim McDonald in Coronation Street)
• Francis Little (1822–1890), born in Fermanagh, Wisconsin State Senator
• Terence MacManus (c. 1823–1861), leader in Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848
• Michael Magner (1840–97), recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Cathal McConnell (1944– ), traditional flute player and singer, founding member of the group The Boys of the Lough.
• Peter McGinnity Gaelic Footballer, Fermanagh's first winner of an All Star Award.
• Martin McGrath Gaelic Football, All Star winner.
• Ciaran McMenamin (1975– ), actor
• Barry Owens Gaelic Footballer, two time All Star winner.
• Sean Quinn (1947– ), entrepreneur
• Michael Sleavon (1826-1902), recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Joan Trimble (1915–2000), pianist and composer
• Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), author and playwright (educated in Portora Royal School)
• Gordon Wilson (1927–1995), Peace campaigner and Irish senator

Surnames

Most common surnames in County Fermanagh at the time of the United Kingdom Census of 1901:

• 1. Maguire
• 2. McManus
• 3. Johnston
• 4. Armstrong
• 5. Gallagher
• 6. Elliott
• 7. Murphy
• 8. Reilly
• 9. Cassidy
• 10. Wilson

See also

• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Fermanagh)
• Castles in County Fermanagh
• Extreme points of the United Kingdom
• High Sheriff of Fermanagh
• List of parishes of County Fermanagh
• List of places in County Fermanagh
• List of townlands in County Fermanagh
• Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh
• People from County Fermanagh
• Silver bands in County Fermanagh

References

• Clogher Record
• "Fermanagh" A Dictionary of British Place-Names. A. D. Mills. Oxford University Press, 2003. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Northern Ireland Public Libraries. 25 July 2007
• "Fermanagh" Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. 25 July 2007 <http://library.eb.co.uk/eb/article-9034047>.
• Fermanagh: its special landscapes: a study of the Fermanagh countryside and its heritage /Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. – Belfast: HMSO, 1991 ISBN 0-337-08276-6
• Livingstone, Peadar. – The Fermanagh story:a documented history of the County Fermanagh from the earliest times to the present day – Enniskillen: Cumann Seanchais Chlochair, 1969.
• Lowe, Henry N. – County Fermanagh 100 years ago: a guide and directory 1880. – Belfast: Friar's Bush Press, 1990. ISBN 0-946872-29-5
• Parke, William K. – A Fermanagh Childhood. Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh: Friar's Bush Press, 1988. ISBN 0-946872-12-0
• Impartial Reporter
• Fermanagh Herald

External links

• County Fermanagh at DMOZ
• Clogherhistory.ie
• Fermanagh GAA
• A folk history of Fermanagh