Derrylin

Derrylin
Irish: Doire Loinn or Doire Fhlionn
Derrylin
 Derrylin shown within Northern Ireland
Population 423 (2001 Census)
Irish grid referenceH273282
DistrictFermanagh
CountyCounty Fermanagh
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Postcode district BT92
Dialling code 028
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK ParliamentFermanagh and South Tyrone
NI AssemblyFermanagh and South Tyrone
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Fermanagh

Coordinates: 54°11′33″N 7°34′01″W / 54.1925°N 7.567°W

Derrylin (from Irish: Doire Loinn, meaning "oakgrove of the blackbirds")[1][2] is a village and townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is on the A509 road between Enniskillen and the border with County Cavan (the N3 road to Dublin). It had a population of 423 in the 2001 Census.

History

The village has several historical features, including the Callowhill graveyard with headstones dating back to the 17th century. Upper Lough Erne is east of the village, and west is the peak of Slieve Rushen. To the northeast is the limestone hill known as Knockninny Rock (from which the R.C. Parish and the Civil Barony takes its name).

Corratrasna Castle

On the southern slope of Knockninny Hill, about a mile and a half north of Derrylin village, can be seen the ruins of Corratrasna Castle (or Corratrasna House), a relatively small fortified house that was probably built around 1611, at the start of the Plantation of Ulster.[3][4] The 'castle' was probably built for a branch of the Balfour family, a Scottish settler family who were based at Castle Balfour in nearby Lisnaskea.[5] However, there is a local tradition that claims the 'castle' was built around 1611 for Brian Maguire, a member of the Clan Mac Uidhir (or Maguire dynasty), Gaelic Lords of Fermanagh.[6]

Another local tradition, recorded by the Irish Office of the Ordnance Survey in the 1830s, states that the 'castle' may have been built for The Rt Rev. Dr William Bedell, who served as the Church of Ireland Lord Bishop of Kilmore in the 1630s and early 1640s.[7] The ruins of the fortified house now sit in a small field, directly behind a modern farmhouse, just off a sideroad in the townland of Corratrasna, quite near Knockninny Methodist Church.[8]

The Troubles

Today

Since the reopening of Aghalane (George Mitchell Peace Bridge) over the Woodford River in 2000, this road is now the main route from Dublin to most of Fermanagh and South Donegal. Traffic has increased significantly through the village since then. Up until the late 1970s this was mostly a rural area with a few shops and places of worship. The construction of a large industrial complex nearby along with the 'Celtic Tiger' influence changed the makeup of the village dramatically. Existing businesses expanded and new ventures began. Derrylin now has a full range of businesses and services. These include foodshops, medical facilities (doctor, dentist, chemist), hairdressing/beauty salons, garages, plant hire, schools, churches and halls, fashion houses, pubs/restaurants, fast food outlets and post office. An Industrial Park (opened in 2002) has a range of small manufacturing enterprises. Other developments of note are a sheltered housing complex for elderly people at Clachan Court, a cross-community playgroup, a childcare facility, a Credit Union and several community/voluntary groups who use the general purpose room in Clachan Court. A daily bus service operates to Enniskillen, Donegal and Dublin.

Job opportunities in the local economy have brought people to new housing estates at Cloghan Park, Fortlea, Silverstream, Knockninny Park, Church View, Oakgrove, Spring Meadows, Summerhill Park and Kellier Park. Although there were plans to build more private houses, the downturn in the economy from 2008 onwards means that this is unlikely in the near future.

Transport

Derrylin is a stop on the Donegal-Enniskillen-Cavan-Dublin Airport-Dublin Bus Éireann Expressway route 30. There is a coach in each direction every two hours during the day as well as an overnight journey.[9] Services operate daily including Sundays. Ulsterbus route 58 from Enniskillen to Belturbet via Kinawley also serves Derrylin several times a day Mondays to Saturdays.[10]

Economy

Derrylin is the hometown of former billionaire Seán Quinn who headed up an industrial empire concentrating on building products, glass bottle manufacture and insurance. However a disastrous bet on a dodgy share option led to his downfall and the loss of his business. The building products enterprise is now run by Aventas and the insurance by Liberty. Hotels and other assets were also lost although court proceedings are currently underway to sort out the tangle. The business appears to be trading successfully and employs about 2000 people locally. Other local businesses include McCaffrey Quarries, Teemore Engineering, Steel Solutions, Signs Express and a range of small family run businesses.

Education

Derrylin is home to St Aidan's High School and St Ninnidh's Primary School.

References

  1. ↑ "Placenames Database of Ireland". Logainm.ie. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Rowan, Alistair, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (popularly known as the Pevsner Guide to North West Ulster), pps 226-227. Yale, London, 2003.
  4. ↑ Wilsdon, Bill, Plantation Castles on the Erne, pps 166-168. The History Press Ireland, Dublin, 2010.
  5. ↑ Rowan, Alistair, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster, p. 226. Yale, London, 2003.
  6. ↑ Wilsdon, Bill, Plantation Castles on the Erne, p. 166. The History Press Ireland, Dublin, 2010.
  7. ↑ Wilsdon, Bill, Plantation Castles on the Erne, p. 166. The History Press Ireland, Dublin, 2010.
  8. ↑ Wilsdon, Bill, Plantation Castles on the Erne, p. 166. The History Press Ireland, Dublin, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Bus Eireann : Table No.30 : Dublin - Airport - Cavan - Dinegal" (PDF). Buseireann.ie. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  10. ↑ "Timetables". Translink. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Derrylin.

External links