Editing Lisnaskea

{{short description |Town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place 
  |official_name=Lisnaskea   
  |irish_name=Lios na Scéithe      
  |scots_name=       
  |local_name=      
  |static_image_name=Main Street, Lisnaskea - geograph.org.uk - 1270375.jpg
  |static_image_caption = Lisnaskea's main street, looking northwest
  |map_type=          Northern Ireland
  |coordinates = {{coord|54.25|-7.442|display=inline,title}}
  |label_position=right  
  |belfast_distance= 
  |population = 3020
  |population_ref = ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]])
  |irish_grid_reference=H3634
  |unitary_northern_ireland= [[Fermanagh and Omagh District Council|Fermanagh and Omagh]]
  |country=           Northern Ireland
  |historic_county=
|post_town=         ENNISKILLEN
  |postcode_area=     BT
  |postcode_district= BT92
  |dial_code=         028
  |constituency_westminster= [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]]
  |constituency_ni_assembly=[[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]]
  |lieutenancy_northern_ireland= [[County Fermanagh]]
  |hide_services=     yes
  |website=        
}}

'''Lisnaskea''' ({{Irish derived place name|Lios na Scéithe|fort of the shield}})<ref name=Pla/> is the second-biggest settlement in [[County Fermanagh]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It is situated mainly in the [[townland]] of [[Lisoneill]], with some areas in the townland of [[Castle Balfour Demesne]], both in the [[Civil parishes in Ireland|civil parish]] of [[Aghalurcher]] and the historic [[Barony (geographic)|barony]] of [[Magherastephana]].<ref name=Pla>{{cite web |title=Lisnaskea |url=http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=13369 |website=Place Names NI |access-date=18 April 2015}}</ref> It had a population of 3,020 people at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]].<ref name=Census2021>{{cite web | url = https://explore.nisra.gov.uk/area-explorer-2021/N21000465/ | title = Erne_East_D – Census 2021 | publisher = [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) | access-date = 25 April 2023}}</ref>

The nearby monument of ''Sciath Ghabhra'' is where the [[Maguire]]s were crowned as kings and chiefs of [[Fermanagh]]. The town developed after the [[Plantation of Ulster]] and is built around the long main street. At the middle, the old market place, formerly known as The Diamond, contains a [[high cross]] (grid ref:H364340)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Department of the Environment (NI) |title=Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland |date=1987 |publisher=HMSO |location=Belfast |pages=152–153 }}</ref> from an early monastery. 19th century buildings include the former market house, corn market and butter market.<ref name=San>{{cite book |last1=Sanderson |first1=Ernest |title=Discover Northern Ireland |date=1976 |publisher=Northern Ireland Tourist Board |location=Belfast |isbn=0-9500222-7-6 |page=152}}</ref> The Castle Park Leisure Centre is situated just off the main street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Park Leisure Centre |url=http://www.fermanagh.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/castle-park-centre.html |website=Fermanagh District Council |access-date=19 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103114636/http://www.fermanagh.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/castle-park-centre.html |archive-date=3 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
The name Lisnaskea comes from ''Lios na Scéithe'' meaning "fort of the shield". North of the village, in the townland of Cornashee,<ref name=Pla/> is a large [[burial mound]] within a round enclosure, which is a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/nismr-public/Details.aspx?MonID=10960 - Search Retrieved May 12, 2018</ref> This is believed to be ''Sciath Ghabhra'' (Skeagoura), the [[coronation]] place of the [[Maguire]]s, who were kings and chiefs of [[Fermanagh]].<ref>FitzPatrick, Elizabeth. ''Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland C. 1100-1600''. Boydell Press, 2004. pp.84-85</ref> Nearby is another [[ringfort]] known as ''Lios Uí Néill'' (Lisoneill). The name Lisnaskea may be a combination of the 'lis' element of Lisoneill and 'skea' from Skeagoura.<ref name=Pla/> There is also evidence of a much earlier ringfort (with [[Radiocarbon dating|radiocarbon]] dates of 359–428 AD) in the townland of Castle Balfour Demesne,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stout |first1=Matthew |title=The Irish Ringfort |date=1997 |publisher=Four Courts Press |location=Dublin |pages=18, 28 }}</ref> suggesting the area was inhabited from a very early date. The ruins of the old monastery, associated with St Ronan, who died sometime before 635 AD, are to the west of the town.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lisnaskea Conservation Area|url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/supplementary_guidance/conservation/conservation_map/conservation_lisnaskea.htm |website=Planning Portal |access-date=19 April 2015|date=2006-11-09 }}</ref>

In 1618, during the [[Plantation of Ulster]], [[Castle Balfour]] was built by Scotsman James, Lord Balfour, and its remains are just off the Main Street of Lisnaskea.<ref name=Fla>{{cite book |last1=Flanagan |first1=Laurence |title=A Dictionary of Irish Archaeology |date=1992 |publisher=Gill and Macmillan |location=Dublin |pages=50–51 }}</ref>
[[File:Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh.jpg|left|thumb|Market Square in Lisnaskea {{Circa|1907}}]]
In the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641]], it was noted that: ''"At Lissenskeah they hanged, or otherwise killed, above 100 persons, most of them of the Scottish nation"''.<ref>''Parliamentary Memoirs of Fermanagh and Tyrone, from 1613 to 1885''</ref> The castle was altered in 1652 and damaged in 1689, but remained inhabited into the 19th century. It was restored and conserved in the 1960s and 1990s.<ref name=Doe>{{cite web |title=Castle Balfour |url=http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/05_pl_monuments_co_fermanagh.pdf |website=Northern Ireland Environment Agency |access-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402020206/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/05_pl_monuments_co_fermanagh.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2014 }}</ref>

The village came under the control of the [[Earl Erne|Earls of Erne]] in 1821. They established the market in the town while bolstering and controlling development around the high street.<ref>[http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=5&to=118&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland culturenorthernireland.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311001953/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=5&to=118&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 |date=11 March 2007}}</ref>

===The Troubles===
{{main|The Troubles in Lisnaskea}}
In December 2013, suspected [[dissident republican]]s fired shots at Lisnaskea [[PSNI]] station. There were no casualties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shots fired at Lisnaskea police station |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25501819 |access-date=19 April 2015 |agency=BBC News NI |date=24 December 2013}}</ref>

===Workhouse===
Lisnaskea Poor Law Union was formally declared on 27 June 1840, and in August [[Sir Arthur Brooke, 2nd Baronet|Sir Arthur Brooke]] was elected chairman. The workhouse was built (at a total cost of over £6,400) on a six-acre site to the south of Lisnaskea purchased from Lord Erne to accommodate 500 inmates, the first of whom were received on 25 February 1843. During 1846, the number of inmates rose from 263 to 817 by the end of the year.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

In 1847, additional accommodation was erected for 130 inmates. During [[Irish revolutionary period|'The Troubles' in the early 1920s]], the workhouse was used to house soldiers of the [[Royal Hampshire Regiment]]. The workhouse later resumed its operation until 1940 when it was used for men of the 8th Battalion of the [[Sherwood Foresters]]. The inmates were transferred to [[Enniskillen]], and in 1948 to [[Armagh]]. Eventually, part of the workhouse was used for a time as the headquarters of Lisnaskea Fire Brigade. Later, the buildings were adapted for a mixture of residential and commercial use.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh |url=http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lisnaskea/ |website=The Workhouse |access-date=19 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lisnaskea Workhouse |url=http://www.lisnaskeaworkhouse.org/history.html |website=Ulster Workhouse and Famine Trust |access-date=19 April 2015}}</ref>

A large iron pot, said to have held 300 gallons of [[gruel]], rested at one time in its gardens.<ref name=San/> In July 2011, part of the upper floor of the building was completely gutted in a fire, believed to be malicious.<ref>{{cite news|title=Community saddened at workhouse fire|url=http://fermanaghherald.com/2011/07/community-saddened-at-workhouse-fire/|access-date=19 April 2015|agency=Fermanagh Herald|date=27 July 2011}}</ref>

==Sport==
The local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] (GAA) team, [[Lisnaskea Emmetts GAC|Lisnaskea Emmetts]], have won 20 [[Fermanagh Senior Football Championship]] titles. In addition to [[Gaelic football]], they also field teams in ladies football and [[hurling]].{{fact|date=March 2025}} They won the [[All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship]] in 2011,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/mcelroy-s-late-goal-brings-joy-for-lisnaskea-1.571748|title=McElroy's late goal brings joy for Lisnaskea|date=14 February 2011|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> and also won the ladies' equivalent later that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.impartialreporter.com/sport/13856677.late-point-from-slevin-sends-emmetts-to-heaven/|title=Late point from Slevin sends Emmetts to heaven|date=24 November 2011|newspaper=[[The Impartial Reporter]]|accessdate=30 October 2022}}</ref>

==Climate==
Lisnaskea experiences a [[maritime climate]] with cool summers and mild winters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/regional-climates/ni|title=Northern Ireland: climate|website=Met Office|language=en|access-date=31 January 2018}}</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Lisnaskea (1991–2020)
 | Jan high C = 8.0
 | Feb high C = 8.7
 | Mar high C = 10.4
 | Apr high C = 13.2
 | May high C = 16.2
 | Jun high C = 18.4
 | Jul high C = 19.5
 | Aug high C = 19.1
 | Sep high C = 17.2
 | Oct high C = 13.7
 | Nov high C = 10.3
 | Dec high C = 8.3
 | year high C = 13.6
 | Jan low C = 1.9
 | Feb low C = 1.7
 | Mar low C = 2.8
 | Apr low C = 4.1
 | May low C = 6.5
 | Jun low C = 9.5
 | Jul low C = 11.4
 | Aug low C = 11.2
 | Sep low C = 9.1
 | Oct low C = 6.4
 | Nov low C = 3.7
 | Dec low C = 2.1
 | year low C = 5.9
 | rain colour = green
 | Jan rain mm = 102.3
 | Feb rain mm = 83.1
 | Mar rain mm = 76.7
 | Apr rain mm = 65.2
 | May rain mm = 70.8
 | Jun rain mm = 69.6
 | Jul rain mm = 87.6
 | Aug rain mm = 101.2
 | Sep rain mm = 76.9
 | Oct rain mm = 107.7
 | Nov rain mm = 105.4
 | Dec rain mm = 117.0
 | year rain mm = 1064.0
 | unit rain days = 1 mm
 | Jan rain days = 17.0
 | Feb rain days = 14.4
 | Mar rain days = 14.4
 | Apr rain days = 13.0
 | May rain days = 13.1
 | Jun rain days = 12.2
 | Jul rain days = 14.6
 | Aug rain days = 15.7
 | Sep rain days = 14.4
 | Oct rain days = 15.5
 | Nov rain days = 16.5
 | Dec rain days = 17.1
 | year rain days = 178.5
 | Jan sun = 43.7
 | Feb sun = 67.6
 | Mar sun = 101.7
 | Apr sun = 142.4
 | May sun = 169.4
 | Jun sun = 140.3
 | Jul sun = 121.6
 | Aug sun = 124.5
 | Sep sun = 104.1
 | Oct sun = 82.7
 | Nov sun = 52.6
 | Dec sun = 32.7
 | year sun = 1183.7
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcdswsjrt
|title = Lisnaskea (County Fermanagh) UK climate averages - Met Office
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = July 4, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Education ==
===Primary level===
Primary schools in the area in St Eugene's Knocks Primary School, The Moat Primary School and St Ronan's Primary School.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

===Secondary level===
At second level, [[St Kevin's College, Lisnaskea|St Kevin's College]] (also known as St Kevin's Secondary School) is located at Derryree in Lisnaskea.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stkevinscollege.co.uk/contactus | title=Contact Us &#124; Saint Kevin's College }}</ref> It was formed, in 2017, following the merger of St Comhghall's College (a Roman Catholic school in Lisnaskea which operated from 1970 until 2017) and St Eugene's College in Rosslea.<ref>https://www.etini.gov.uk/sites/etini.gov.uk/files/publications/report-of-a-post-primary-inspection-st-kevins-college-lisnaskea-223-0322.pdf</ref>

Another school, Lisnaskea High School ([[Castle Balfour Demesne]]), was the town's only non-Catholic high school. It was amalgamated with nearby [[Devenish College]] in 2013. Since then, 75% of the school's students transferred to [[Devenish College]], with other students transferring to [[Erne Integrated College]] and [[Fivemiletown|Fivemiletown High School]].<ref>[http://fermanaghherald.com/2014/08/one-year-on-lisnaskea-is-still-reeling-from-the-closure-of-its-high-school "One year on, Lisnaskea is still reeling from the closure of its High School], 24 August 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/13863075.Minister_closes_Lisnaskea_High_School|title=Minister closes Lisnaskea High School|website=Impartial Reporter|date=26 June 2013 }}</ref>

===Libraries===
A new public library was opened in Main Street on 8 April 2015 by [[Libraries NI]] at a cost of £1.28m. It is spread over two floors with a special children's library and conference rooms.<ref>{{cite news|title=New £1.28m library is a big hit in Lisnaskea|url=http://fermanaghherald.com/2015/04/new-1-8m-library-is-a-big-hit-in-lisnaskea|access-date=31 January 2018|agency=Fermanagh Herald|date=18 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lisnaskea Library|url=https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/Pages/Lisnaskea-Library.aspx|website=Libraries NI|access-date=18 April 2015}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Lisnaskea railway station]] opened on 26 August 1858 and was shut on 1 October 1957.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lisnaskea station|work=Railscot - Irish Railways|url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf|access-date=28 October 2007}}</ref> The station was opened by the [[Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway]], later named the Irish North Western Railway. In 1876 it became part of the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]].

==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title = National Identity of Lisnaskea residents (2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000358 |website=NISRA |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000358 |website=NISRA |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000358 |website=NISRA |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Nationality |right1=Per cent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|Irish|DarkOrchid|50.8}}
{{bar percent|Northern Irish|grey|27.8}}
{{bar percent|British|Blue|20.3}}
}}
===2021 census===
On census day in 2021, the usually resident population of Lisnaskea Settlement was 3,020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000358 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref> Of these:
* 76.09% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 18.97% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion.<ref name="2021 religion">{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000358 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>
* 16.59% indicated that they had a British only identity, 47.21% had an Irish only identity and 22.88% had a Northern Irish only identity.<ref>{{cite web |title=National identity (person based) - basic detail (classification 1) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BASIC&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000358 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>

===2011 census===
On census day 2011 (27 March 2011), the usually resident population of Lisnaskea Settlement was 2,956, accounting for 0.16% of the NI total.<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web |title=Census 2011 Population Statistics for Lisnaskea Settlement |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Lisnaskea@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Lisnaskea@23? |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) |access-date=21 December 2019}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>
* 98.51% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group;
* 75.61% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 22.43% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion; and
* 23.65% indicated that they had a British national identity, 43.27% had an Irish national identity and 30.82% had a Northern Irish national identity. Respondents could indicate more than one national identity
* 16.21% had some knowledge of Irish;
* 2.48% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots; and
* 4.68% did not have English as their first language.

===2001 census===
Lisnaskea is classified as an intermediate settlement by the [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency|NI Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).
On census day 2001 (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.<ref>[http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]{{nonspecific|date=March 2025}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Arlene Foster, Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee|The Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee]] (born 1970), former [[First Minister of Northern Ireland]] and former Leader of the [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]]. Lady Foster of Aghadrumsee was initially raised in the [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of [[Aghadrumsee]], near [[Roslea]], before she moved with her family to Castlebalfour in Lisnaskea when she was aged 9. She spent the rest of her childhood and teenage years in Lisnaskea.
* [[Rachel Horne]] (born 1979), journalist and newsreader with [[Virgin Radio UK]]. She previously worked for [[BBC News]]. She was raised near Lisnaskea, and is married to the comedian and television presenter [[Alex Horne]].
* [[Seán Lynch (politician)|Seán Lynch]] (born 1954), [[Sinn Féin]] politician who was an [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]] for [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]] from 2011 until 2021. He was formerly a member of the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]]. Lynch was raised on the outskirts of Lisnaskea, and he continues to live in the town.
* [[Áine Murphy]], a [[Sinn Féin]] politician who has served as an [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]] for [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]] since 2011. She is from Lisnaskea.
* [[Johnny Patterson]] (1840-1889), circus showman and songwriter lived for a time in the village. He wrote many popular songs including ''The garden where the praties grow'' and ''The stone outside Dan Murphy's door''.<ref name=San/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Lisnaskea}}

==External links==
{{County Fermanagh}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lisnaskea| ]]
[[Category:Villages in County Fermanagh]]
[[Category:Civil parish of Aghalurcher]]