County Fermanagh

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Published Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 5:45 PM

Updated Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 4:45 PM

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Lough Erne

Irish Name: Fear Manach: "Men of Manach"

County Town: Enniskillen

Nickname: The Maguire County, The Lakeland County

GAA Colors: Green and White

Famous People with Fermanagh roots: Samuel Beckett (studied in the county), Gordon Wilson (famous Irish senator and peace advocate), and playwright Oscar Wilde; US Presidents Bill Clinton, Woodrow Wilson and Ulysses S. Grant have Fermanagh roots

County Fermanagh is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Ulster and is part of the United Kingdom. As Fermanagh is situated mostly in the basin of the River Erne, it is often referred to as Ireland's Lake District, together with neighbouring County Cavan. The county is approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Belfast and 160 km (99 mi) from Dublin.

The county 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. Fermanagh is the only county of Northern Ireland that does not border Lough Neagh.

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.

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.

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. The Annals of Ulster were written at Belle Isle on Lough Erne.

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: Belleek Pottery, Castle Archdale, Crom Estate, Devenish Island, Florence Court, Lough Navar Forest Park and the Marble Arch Caves