| County Fermanagh Contae Fhear Manach
Coontie Fermanagh |
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| Motto: Feor Magh Eanagh | |||
| Country | United Kingdom | ||
| Region | Northern Ireland | ||
| Province | Ulster | ||
| County seat | Enniskillen | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 652.9 sq mi (1,691 km2) | ||
| Area rank | 25th | ||
| Population (est.) | 57,527 | ||
| • Rank | 28th[1] | ||
| Contae Fhear Manach is the Irish name; Countie Fermanagh,[2] Coontie Fermanagh[3] and Coontie Fermanay[4] are Ulster Scots spellings (the latter used only by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council). | |||
County Fermanagh (from Irish: Fear Manach meaning "men of Manach") is the only one of six counties that form Northern Ireland to not adjoin Lough Neagh. Lying within the historical province of Ulster, it is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland.
The county covers an area of 1,691 km² (653 sq; mi), with a population of approximately 57,527, with Enniskillen its county town. It is a mainly rural landscape.
It is one of four counties of Northern Ireland presently to have a majority of the population from a Catholic background, according to the 2001 census.
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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 is situated mostly in the basin of the River Erne. It is approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Belfast and 160 km (99 mi) from Dublin.
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 Knockinny and Maghenaboy 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.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1659 | 7,102 | — |
| 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% |
| [5][6][7][8][9][10] | ||
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas.
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.
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:
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation which has almost 100 lodges in Fermanagh. It consists of approximately 2200 male members and 300 female members.
(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)[11]
(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)[11]
(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)[11]
(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)[11]
(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)[11]
(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)[11]
Baronies
Parishes
Townlands
Newspapers
Radio
New Media
Fermanagh GAA has never won an Senior Provincial or an All-Ireland title in any Gaelic games.
No Fermanagh clubs take part in the Northern Ireland football league system. Fermanagh clubs play in the Fermanagh & Western FA league systems. Famous Football players from Fermanagh include Roy Carroll, Harry Chatton, Barry Owens and Kyle Lafferty.
Famous people born, raised in or living in Fermanagh. (Please make additions in alphabetical order.)
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