Lisnaskea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lisnaskea Lios na Scéithe |
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| Location | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Ulster | |
| County: | County Fermanagh | |
| District: | Fermanagh | |
| UK Parliament: | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | |
| Dialling Code: | 028, +44 28 | |
| Population (2001) | 2739 | |
| Website: www.fermanagh.gov.uk | ||
Lisnaskea (from the Irish: Lios na Scéithe meaning "The fort of the shield") is a large village and the second largest settlement in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and is the former seat of the ancient Maguire Kings. It had a population of 2,739 people in the 2001 Census. It lies within the Fermanagh District Council area.
The town is built around the long main street, which bends at almost 90 degrees along its course.
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[edit] History
Lisnaskea has a proud heritage dating back to the ruling Maguire Clan of Fermanagh. It was once the Seat of the Clan, where Kings were crowned and ruled the County. This strategic importance led to the town changing hands many times over the years. Sir Michael Balfour took control of the town in the Plantation of Ulster and in 1821 it came under the control of the Earls of Erne. They established the market in the town whilst aiding and controlling development around the high street.[1]
On July 2, 2006 four people were killed in a car accident on the Lisnaskea to Newtownbutler road. The victims were aged between 16 and 21. The four were travelling in the back seat of the car when the driver lost control, crashing into a ditch before hitting a tree. The front seat passenger and the driver, who was arrested, were not seriously injured. Four days later it was discovered that the bodies of the two female victims had been misidentified by the coroner's office, resulting a family burying the wrong body. The body was later exhumed and reburied.[2]
[edit] Education
Primary Level
- The Moat Primary School
- St. Ronans Primary School
Secondary Level
- Lisnaskea High School
- St. Comhghalls Secondary School
Lisnaskea Library
[edit] The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in Lisnaskea, which includes a list of incidents in Lisnaskea during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
[edit] Places of interest
Just off the Main Street are the ruins of Castle Balfour, built in 1618 by the Balfour’s. The castle was inhabited right up to the early 19th century and is currently undergoing a restoration programme.[3]
[edit] 2001 Census
Lisnaskea is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie 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:
- 23.5% were aged under 16 years and 18.9% were aged 60 and over
- 46.8% of the population were male and 53.2% were female
- 74.1% were from a Catholic background and 24.5% were from a Protestant background
- 7.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
