Necarne

Coordinates: 54°27′50″N 7°38′06″W / 54.464°N 7.635°W / 54.464; -7.635

Necarne Castle, March 2007

Necarne Castle, formerly known as Castle Irvine, is situated within walking distance of Irvinestown in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is just a few miles from Lough Erne.

Edward Warde was the first undertaker of the land around Irvinestown at the time of the Plantation of Ulster in 1610. Undertakers were civilian groups who undertook, depending on the area of the ground they were given, to build a house and bawn, take in only British tenants at the rate of 24 men per 1000 acres (4 km²), and to keep a number of armed men. Warde's patent was dated 13 May 1611. In those days the land was known as Nakarney or Nakarna (Necarne). The land changed hands a few times until finally Gerard Lowther took possession of it in 1615.

There has always been much speculation as to how Necarne got its name. Legend has it that Hugh Roe O'Donnell, an Irish chieftain, was on one of his marches to discipline the O'Briens who were collaborating with the English.^{[citation needed]} He noticed an army fortification on his left flank and ordered his men to investigate it. They returned to say "Ni carn e" or there is no building there. Hence, the name Necarne.^{[citation needed]}

Today Necarne is an equestrian centre.

This castle also belonged to the Kennedy family

See also

• Castles in Northern Ireland