Lisnaskea

History

Lisnaskea was once the seat of the Maguire Clan and its strategic importance led to the town changing hands many times over the years. The 17th century remains of Castle Balfour, are just off the Main Street in Lisnaskea, built around 1618 by James, Lord Balfour. The castle was altered in 1652 and damaged in 1689, but remained inhabited into the 19th century. It was restored and conserved in the 1960s and 1990s. In 1821 the village came under the control of the Earls of Erne. They established the market in the town whilst bolstering and controlling development around the high street.

There was also evidence of a very much earlier ringfort (with radiocarbon dates of 359-428 AD) in the townland of Castle Balfour Demesne suggesting the area was inhabited from a very early date. The ruins of the old monastery, associated with St Ronan, who died some time before 635 AD, are to the west of the town.

The Troubles

In December 2013, suspected dissident republicans fired shots at Lisnaskea police station, with no resultant casualties.

The Workhouse

Lisnaskea Poor Law Union was formally declared on the 27 June 1840 and in August Sir Arthur Brooke was elected Chairman. The workhouse was built (at a total cost of over £6,400) on a six-acre site to the south of Lisnaskea purchased from Lord Erne to accommodate 500 inmates, the first of whom were received on 25 February 1843. During 1846, the number of inmates rose from 263 to 817 by the end of the year. In 1847, additional accommodation was erected for 130 inmates. In the early 1920s, during the 'Troubles' of that time, the workhouse was used to house soldiers of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. The workhouse later resumed its operation until 1940 when it was used for men of the 8th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. The inmates were transferred to Enniskillen, and in 1948 to Armagh. Eventually part of the workhouse was used for a time as the headquarters of Lisnaskea Fire Brigade. Later the buildings was adapted for a mixture of residential and commercial use. A large iron pot said to have held 300 gallons of gruel, rested at one time in its gardens. In July 2011, part of the upper floor of the building was completely gutted in a fire, believed to be malicious.

Sport

Throughout the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Fermanagh, Lisnaskea Emmetts have consistently been a major force in Gaelic football winning 20 Fermanagh Senior Football Championship titles, ladies football and hurling. They have won a range of honours in the sport including the All Ireland intermediate championship in 2011. and the All Ireland ladies final in 2011Template:20th February They wear red and green. Lisnaskea Emmetts over the years have had clubmen involved in the Fermanagh GAA and Ulster Railway Cup team.

Climate

As with the rest of the British Isles, Lisnaskea experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters.

Primary level

Secondary level

Libraries

2001 Census

Lisnaskea is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,739 people living in Lisnaskea. Of these:

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

People

Transport

Lisnaskea railway station opened on 26 August 1858 and was shut on 1 October 1957.