Monday 1 January 2024

Fermanagh Antiquities

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837


The number of Danish raths in all parts is very great, but none of them are peculiarly singular in their construction.

Tumuli also occur, surrounded with circles of upright stones; when opened, urns and stone coffins have been found in them.

At Wattlebridge, three miles from Newtownbutler, on the banks of the Finn, are the remains of a Druid temple [Annaghmore Glebe].

There are but few remains of monastic institutions: those of Devenish and Gola are the only structures in which traces of the original buildings can be discovered: the abbeys of Inishmacsaint, Cleenish, Kilskeery, and Rossorry have been converted into parish churches: those of Aredmuilt, Derough, Domnachmore (Donagh?), Inniscasin [sic], Iniseo, Inisrocha, and Loughuva [Lough Nahoo] are now known only by name.

About a mile from Pettigo stand the ruins of Castle Magrath, the residence of the first Protestant Bishop of Clogher [Miler Magrath], from whom the building took its name.

Lisgoole, a castle on the bank of the Rale [sic] opposite to Enniskillen, also suffered during the civil war of 1641, being burnt by the Irish.

The ruins of Callowhill Castle are near Florencecourt.

Castle Hume is now a pile of ruins.

Enniskillen, which was little more than a fort in ELIZABETH I's time, has since completely changed its character.

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