Enniskillen
An island town doing its business between two loughs, with boats at the marinas and the castle on the river. Enniskillen, the county town of Fermanagh, sits between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.
Best sites to see in Enniskillen
Enniskillen Castle
A castle on the River Erne in the town centre, built by the Maguire chieftains in the 16th century, now home to the Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum.
Devenish Island
An early monastic island in Lower Lough Erne with a well-preserved round tower and church ruins, reached by boat trips from the Enniskillen area in season.
Castle Coole
A neoclassical mansion in parkland just outside the town, built in the late 18th century and cared for by the National Trust, with woodland and lakeside walks.
Cole's Monument and Forthill Park
A tall column in a park above the town, built in the 19th century to commemorate General Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, which can be climbed in season for views over Enniskillen and the loughs.
Where to stand, and when
- Enniskillen Castle from across the River Erne: Morning light gives the clearest view of the castle's water gate and towers from the far bank.
- The lakeshore west of town on Lower Lough Erne: Sunset over the lough, with its wooded islands, is the classic Enniskillen photograph.
- The top of Cole's Monument: On a clear day, climb for a panorama of the island town between the two loughs.
Enniskillen through history
Enniskillen occupies an island site between Upper and Lower Lough Erne, on the River Erne, and its Irish name, Inis Ceithleann, means Ceithleann's island.
The town was a stronghold of the Maguire chieftains of Fermanagh, who built its castle in the 16th century.
Enniskillen's townsmen raised regiments known as the Inniskillings during the Williamite war of 1689, a military tradition the castle museums still record.
The town developed as the county town of Fermanagh and a market and boating centre for the Erne waterway.
Practical tips
- Boat trips to Devenish Island and on Lough Erne are seasonal and weather-dependent, so check departure points and times on the day.
- Traffic crosses the island town by its bridges and can be slow at peak times, so allow extra driving time.
- Castle Coole and Florence Court are outside the town, so group them as a driving day rather than a walking excursion.
What's on
No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar