Castle Archdale facts for kids
Castle Archdale is a cool place in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It used to be a big estate, but now it's a fun country park right by the beautiful Lough Erne Lower. You can also find a caravan park here. Castle Archdale is close to Lisnarick and Irvinestown, not far from Enniskillen. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency looks after the park today.
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Discovering Castle Archdale's Past
The land where the park now stands was once a large estate. It belonged to the Archdale family. They arrived in 1614 during a time called the Plantation of Ulster. This was when many people from England and Scotland moved to Ulster.
The first castle was built in 1615. A man named John Archdale, who came from Norfolk, built it. He was a "Plantation undertaker," meaning he helped settle new people in the area. His castle had strong walls and towers to protect it.
Later, John's son Edward took over. Sadly, the first castle was burned down in 1641 during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. People say that almost all of Edward's children died then. But his youngest son was saved by a brave nurse. She pushed him out of a window to safety!
The castle was destroyed again in 1689. This happened during the Williamite wars, another big conflict. In the 1700s, a large mansion was built instead. Today, you can still see a big stone courtyard from that time. It has white buildings around it, which now hold an information center and tearooms. You can also find the old castle ruins in another part of the park.
Castle Archdale During World War II
During World War II, Castle Archdale was a very important place. It became a big base for flying boats. These were special airplanes that could land and take off from water. Up to 2,500 people lived and worked here.
Planes like PBY Catalinas and Short Sunderlands flew from Castle Archdale. Their job was to protect ships in the Atlantic Ocean. They looked for German U-boats (submarines) that were attacking the ships. Today, the caravan park sits on the old concrete area where these aircraft were fixed. There's also a museum in the park. It has cool exhibits from the World War II period.
Getting Around and Fun Activities
Castle Archdale offers ways to explore and have fun!
- You can take a ferry from the Castle Archdale marina. This boat trip goes to White Island.
- There used to be a private train station at Castle Archdale. It opened in 1866 but closed in 1950.
Sports and Adventures
If you love being active, Castle Archdale has lots to offer. You can find many water and land activities here. A company located near the marina car park offers these fun adventures.
