Editing Enniskillen (section)

== History ==
{{Historical populations|state=collapsed
|1821|1563
|1831|5270
|1841|8453
|1851|8642
|1861|5635
|1871|5886
|1881|5712
|1891|5570
|1901|5412
|1911|4847
|1926|4883
|1937|5626
|1951|6322
|1961|7406
|1966|7153
|1971|10305
|1981|10429
|1991|11436
|2001|13560
|2011|13790
|2021|14086
|footnote=<ref name="2021 pop2">{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000564 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="Census2011" /><ref name="Census2001b">{{cite web |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/PivotGrid.aspx?ds=4840&lh=69&yn=2001&sk=135&sn=Census%202001&yearfilter=2001 | title = Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) – Table view | page = 2 | publisher = [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) | access-date = 15 August 2019 | archive-date = 23 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210923152256/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/Home.aspx | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/|url-status=dead|title=HISTPOP.ORG – Home|archive-date=7 May 2016|website=histpop.org}}</ref><ref>1813 estimate from Mason's Statistical Survey</ref><ref>For a discussion on the accuracy of [[Great Famine (Ireland)|pre-famine]] census returns see [[J. J. Lee (historian)|J. J. Lee]] "On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, in and also New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850 by Joel Mokyr and [[Cormac Ó Gráda]] in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (November 1984), pp. 473-88</ref><ref name="NI_Assembly">{{cite web |url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/general/9915.pdf |title=NI Assembly: Key Statistics for Settlements, Census 2011 NIAR 404-15 |website=niassembly.gov.uk |date=2015-10-01 |access-date=2017-08-10 |archive-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403212608/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/general/9915.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
The town's oldest building is [[Enniskillen Castle]], built by Hugh (Maguire) the Hospitable who died in 1428.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mary Rogers |title=Prospect of Fermanagh |publisher=Watergate Press, Enniskillen |year=1982}}</ref> An earthwork, the Skonce on the shore of [[Lough Erne]], may be the remains of an earlier [[Motte-and-bailey castle|motte]]. The castle was the stronghold of the junior branch of the [[Maguire (surname)|Maguire]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Maguires of Fermanagh |url=https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/MaguiresDuffysHibernian2-10/index.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424172301/https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/MaguiresDuffysHibernian2-10/index.php |archive-date=24 April 2019 |access-date=8 September 2019 |website=libraryireland.com}}</ref> The first [[Watergate (architecture)|watergate]] was built around 1580 by [[Cú Chonnacht Maguire]], though subsequent lowering of the level of the lough has left it without water. The strategic position of the castle made its capture important for the English in 1593, to support their plans for the control of [[Ulster]]. The castle was [[Siege of Enniskillen (1594)|besieged three times in 1594–95]]. The English, led by a Captain Dowdall, captured it in February 1594. Maguire then laid siege to it, and defeated a relieving force at the [[Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits]] at Drumane Bridge on the [[Arney River]]. Although the defenders were relieved, Maguire gained possession of the castle from 1595 to 1598 and it was not finally captured by the English until 1607.

This was part of a wider campaign to bring the province of Ulster under English control; the final capture of Enniskillen Castle in 1607 was followed by the [[Plantation of Ulster]], during which the lands of the native Irish were seized and handed over to planters loyal to the English Crown. The Maguires were supplanted by [[William Cole (planter)|William Cole]], originally from [[Devon]], who was appointed by James I to build an English settlement there in 1612.

Captain Cole was installed as Constable and strengthened the castle wall and built a "fair house" on the old foundation as the centre point of the county town. The first Protestant parish church was erected on the hilltop in 1627. By 1630 the town had around 180 inhabitants, mostly comprising English and Scottish settlers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hunter |first=Robert J. |date=1978 |title=Sir William Cole and Plantation Enniskillen, 1607–41 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27695765 |journal=Clogher Record |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=336–350 |doi=10.2307/27695765 |jstor=27695765 |access-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> The [[Portora Royal School|Royal Free School of Fermanagh]] was moved onto the island in 1643. The first bridges were drawbridges; permanent bridges were not installed before 1688.

By 1689 the town had grown significantly. During the conflict which resulted from the ousting of King [[James II of England|James II]] by his Protestant rival, [[William III of England|William III]], Enniskillen and [[siege of Derry|Derry]] were the focus of Williamite resistance in Ireland, including the nearby [[Battle of Newtownbutler]].<ref>[[Thomas Witherow|Witherow, Thomas]]. [http://www.libraryireland.com/Derry1689/VI-1.php "The Defence of Enniskillen"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120170815/http://www.libraryireland.com/Derry1689/VI-1.php |date=20 November 2008 }}. ''Derry and Enniskillen in the Year 1689''. Library Ireland. Retrieved 24 May 2012.</ref>

Enniskillen and Derry were the two garrisons in Ulster that were not wholly loyal to James II, and it was the last town to fall before the [[Siege of Derry]]. As a direct result of this conflict, Enniskillen developed not only as a market town but also as a garrison, which became home to two regiments.

The former site of Fermanagh College at Gaol Square (the college has now moved to the old Erne Hospital site) was the former Enniskillen [[Prison|Gaol]]. Many people were tried and hanged in the square during the times of public execution. Part of the old goal is still standing. [[Enniskillen Town Hall]] was designed by William Scott and completed in 1901.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enniskillen Town Hall |url=https://www.fermanaghlakelands.com/Enniskillen-Townhall-Enniskillen-P41978 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516164900/https://www.fermanaghlakelands.com/Enniskillen-Townhall-Enniskillen-P41978 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |access-date=16 May 2021 |publisher=Fermanagh Lakelands}}</ref>

=== Military history ===
Enniskillen is the site of the foundation of two [[British Army]] regiments:
* [[Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers]]
* [[The Inniskillings (6th Dragoons)]]

The town's name (with the archaic spelling) continues to form part of the title to [[The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)]]. [[Enniskillen Castle]] features on the cap badge of both regiments.

=== The Troubles ===
{{main|The Troubles in Enniskillen}}

Enniskillen was the site of several events during [[The Troubles]], the most notable being the [[Remembrance Day bombing]] in which 11 people were killed. [[Bill Clinton]] opened [[The Clinton Centre]] in 2002 on the site of the bombing. The [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] claimed responsibility for the attack.

=== Alleged sexual abuse and assault ===
In 2019, at least nine men reported to the police and the press and said in public forums that, in the 1980s and 90s, when they were children, they were repeatedly molested and raped by a [[paedophile]] ring of at least 20 men in the Enniskillen area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grandjean |first=Stephen Dempster and Guy |date=2019-11-26 |title=Victim of alleged paedophile ring speaks out |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50550996 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127135116/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50550996 |archive-date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-03 |title=Police unit to examine historic sex abuse |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48150317 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514143413/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48150317 |archive-date=14 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Public meeting in Enniskillen hears from alleged sex abuse victims |url=https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/18003425.public-meeting-enniskillen-hears-alleged-sex-abuse-victims/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211184322/https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/18003425.public-meeting-enniskillen-hears-alleged-sex-abuse-victims/ |archive-date=11 December 2019 |access-date=2019-11-26 |website=Impartial Reporter |date=30 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Rodney |title=Child sex abuse in Fermanagh was an 'open secret', claim victims |language=en |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/child-sex-abuse-in-fermanagh-was-an-open-secret-claim-victims-1.4032807 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003235215/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/child-sex-abuse-in-fermanagh-was-an-open-secret-claim-victims-1.4032807 |archive-date=3 October 2019}}</ref> Investigations are continuing.