Lisnaskea

Infobox UK place
official_name=Lisnaskea
irish_name=Lios na Scéithe
scots_name=
local_name=
static_

static_image_caption=
map_type= Northern Ireland
latitude=54.25
longitude=-7.442
belfast_distance=
population=2739 (2001 Census)
irish_grid_reference=H3634
unitary_northern_ireland= Fermanagh
country= Northern Ireland
post_town= ENNISKILLEN
postcode_area= BT
postcode_district= BT92
dial_code= 028
constituency_westminster= Fermanagh and South Tyrone
lieutenancy_northern_ireland= County Fermanagh
website=

Lisnaskea (derive|Irish|Lios na Scéithe|The fort of the shield) is a large village and the second largest settlement in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and is the former seat of the ancient Maguire Kings. It had a population of 2,739 people in the 2001 Census. The town is built around the long main street, which bends at almost 90 degrees along its course. It lies within the Fermanagh District Council area and within the Fermanagh and South Tyrone area and the MP for the area is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin.

History

Lisnaskea has a proud heritage dating back to the ruling Maguire Clan of Fermanagh. It was once the Seat of the Clan, where Kings were crowned and ruled the County. This strategic importance led to the town changing hands many times over the years. Sir Michael Balfour took control of the town in the Plantation of Ulster and in 1821 it came under the control of the Earls of Erne. They established the market in the town whilst aiding and controlling development around the high street. [ [http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=5&to=118&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland culturenorthernireland.org] ]

The Troubles

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

Places of interest

Just off the Main Street are the ruins of Castle Balfour, built in 1618 by the Balfour’s. The castle was inhabited right up to the early 19th century and is currently undergoing a restoration programme. [ [http://www.enniskillen.com/lisnaskea.html Enniskillen.com enniskillen.com] ]

port

Gaelic Athletic Association

Throughout the history of Gaelic Athletic Association games in Fermanagh Lisnaskea has consistently been a major force in Gaelic football and hurling. The local Gaelic football team is known as Lisnaskea Emmetts and have won a range of honours in the sport.

Road Traffic Collision

On July 22006 four people were killed in a car accident on the Lisnaskea to Newtownbutler road. The victims were aged between 16 and 21. The four were travelling in the back seat of the car when the driver lost control, crashing into a ditch before hitting a tree. The front seat passenger and the driver, who was arrested, were not seriously injured. Four days later it was discovered that the bodies of the two female victims had been misidentified by the coroner's office, resulting a family burying the wrong body. The body was later exhumed and reburied. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5153864.stm BBC news report] ]

Education

Primary Level

*St Eugene's Knocks Primary School
*The Moat Primary School
*St. Ronan's Primary School

Secondary Level

*Lisnaskea High School
*St. Comhghall's LisnaskeaLisnaskea Library

2001 Census

Lisnaskea is classified as an intermediate settlement by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (ie with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,739 people living in Lisnaskea. Of these:
*23.5% were aged under 16 years and 18.9% were aged 60 and over
*46.8% of the population were male and 53.2% were female
*74.1% were from a Catholic background and 24.5% were from a Protestant background
*7.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]

Transport

*Lisnaskea railway station opened on 26 August 1858 and finally closed on 1 October 1957. [cite web | title=Lisnaskea station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-28]

References

External links

* [http://cloghmore.bravepages.com/fermanagh/lisnaskeacross.html Lisnaskea Market Cross]
* [http://www.citynoise.org/hood/lisnaskea@northern_ireland Photos of Lisnaskea]
* [http://www.lisnaskeagolfsociety.co.uk Lisnaskea Golf Society]
* [http://lisnaskeaemmettsfootball.fermanagh.gaa.ie Lisnaskea Emmett's Gaelic Football]
* [http://lisnaskeaemmetts.fermanagh.gaa.ie Lisnaskea Emmett's Hurling]

See also

*List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland