Newtownbutler

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Newtownbutler
Location
Location of Newtownbutler
centerMap highlighting Newtownbutler
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
54.182° N 7.361° W
Statistics
Province: Ulster
County: County Fermanagh
District: Fermanagh
Population (2001) 943

Newtownbutler is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the southeast corner of the County, close to the border with County Monaghan and the town of Clones. It is surrounded by small lakes and bogland and close to Lough Erne. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 943 people. It lies within the Fermanagh District Council area.

Contents

[edit] History

In the 17th century this Plantation village was known as Newtown. It was renamed Newtownbutler when Theophilus Butler was created Baron of the area in 1715.

The local terrain was the undoing of some of the Jacobite forces in 1689 in the Battle of Newtownbutler. A Williamite force of less than 1000 Enniskillen troops captured and killed 3000 of James II’s troops here after they had got lost in the anonymous and unmarked bog.

[edit] The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Newtownbutler, which includes a list of incidents in Newtownbutler during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

[edit] Places of interest

Crom Estate, Newtownbutler, owned by the National Trust, covers over 1,900 acres of woods, parkland and wetland and is one of Ireland's most important nature conservation areas with the largest surviving area of oak woodland in Northern Ireland. There are also many attractive buildings on the estate, including Crom Old Castle and the romantic folly, Gad Island Tower. The wealth of wildlife at Crom is highlighted by the presence of two rare butterflies - the purple hair-streak and the wood white, as well as the pine marten and the largest herony in Ireland. The 19th century castle is private and not open to the public.

[edit] People

Charles Irwin (1824-April 8, 1873) was born in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. On 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, Private Irwin showed conspicuous bravery at the assault on the Secundra Bagh when, although severely wounded through the right shoulder, he was one of the first to enter the building under heavy fire. He died on 29 March 1873 at Newtownbutler and is buried in Saint Mark's Churchyard, Magheraveely, County Fermanagh.

[edit] 2001 Census

Newtownbutler is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 943 people living in Newtownbutler. Of these:

  • 27.9% were aged under 16 years and 12.9% were aged 60 and over
  • 47.8% of the population were male and 52.2% were female
  • 90.8% were from a Catholic background and 8.9% were from a Protestant background
  • 10.7% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links