Enniskillen Castle is a cultural cornerstone, attracting local, national, and international interest as one of the most prominent archaeological and architectural monuments in the region.
Located beside the River Erne, Enniskillen Castle is a melting pot of diverse histories from medieval stronghold, to Plantation castle, military barracks, to state-of-the-art-museum.
Next to one of the narrowest crossing points between Upper and Lower Lough Erne, guarding one of the few passes into Ulster, the Castle has been strategically important throughout its history.
The original Castle Keep was built almost 600 years ago by the ruling Gaelic Maguires in Fermanagh. The earliest known reference to the site occurs in the 'Annals of Ulster' in 1439 which refers to Tomas Óg Maguire being taken prisoner in his own castle at Enniskillen by Domnall Maguire 'the Freckled'.
It's believed that Hugh 'the hospitable' Maguire had the Castle built before his death in 1428. On an important international medieval pilgrimage route, Enniskillen Castle became the stronghold for the ruling Maguires and a centre for patronage of the arts and church.
However, the Castle was attacked and burnt down on many occasions throughout the 16th century, with one of the best documented assaults taking place in 1593-4.
It was besieged and eventually captured by the English under Captain John Dowdall, only to be recaptured by Hugh Maguire shortly afterwards.
The events of the siege were recorded at the time by the soldier John Thomas on a remarkable bird’s eye watercolour now belonging to the British Library.
In the following century, the Castle came under English control in 1607, after the ‘Flight of the Earls’. The Castle Keep was refurbished by Captain (later Sir) William Cole and the site expanded with the addition of the Scottish-influenced ‘Watergate’.
A distinctive feature of the Castle with its twin turrets, the ‘Watergate’ is used as a symbol to represent the town and County.
During the Plantation period, the Castle was crucial to the development of the town of Enniskillen, which is Ireland’s only island town.
In 1689, the town was besieged, and two local regiments were raised to defend it: the regiments became the Inniskillings Fusiliers (foot soldiers) and the Inniskillings Dragoons (cavalry).
Today, Fermanagh is recognised as having the greatest number of surviving ruins of Plantation Castles, as well as some of the best preserved examples, in the whole of Ireland.
The Castle now houses two museums, the Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum, jointly promoted as Enniskillen Castle Museums.
It was transformed by a £3.5 million development project, and the Fermanagh Visitor Information Centre relocated to the spot.
The new visitor centre offers panoramic views of the Castle site and a walkway looking across the town and its waterways.
Histories are uncovered through imaginative displays of objects, graphics, models, film and hands-on learning activities.
The refurbished historic castle buildings and its grounds are the perfect spot to discover the history of the surrounding area, whether you're a local or visiting.
Currently, tours of the historic Castle site and Fermanagh County Museum Galleries can be pre-booked online at https://www.enniskillencastle.co.uk/whats-on
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