Enniskillen Castle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Enniskillen Castle
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Enniskillen Castle 2011
Enniskillen Castle
Coordinates	54°20′46″N 07°38′42″W / 54.34611°N 7.64500°W / 54.34611; -7.64500
Type	Castle
Site information
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	1428

Enniskillen Castle is a cool old castle located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It was first built a long, long time ago in the 1500s. Today, it's home to two interesting museums: the Fermanagh County Museum and a museum about two famous army groups, the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

History of Enniskillen Castle
What You Can See at the Castle
- Castle Design and Features
- Museums and Collections
See also

History of Enniskillen Castle

Early Days and Battles

A man named Hugh Maguire built the first castle here in 1428. It was an important place for many years.

In 1594, Captain John Dowdall's soldiers attacked the castle. After a short fight, the castle was taken on February 2nd. Later that same year, the castle was attacked again, but this time it was saved.

The castle finally fell to Irish forces in 1595. It stayed in Irish hands until 1602. Then, an Irish ally of the crown, Niall Garve O'Donnell, took control.

Changes and New Owners

In 1607, Captain William Cole became the commander of the castle. He made many changes and fixed up the castle. In 1609, he added a special tower by the river. This tower is known as the Watergate.

Captain Cole bought the castle completely in 1623. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Rory Maguire tried to take the castle, but he failed. The castle kept people safe during this time.

From Castle to Barracks

In 1796, the castle was changed into "Castle Barracks." This happened because people were worried about a possible French invasion.

In 1853, the barracks became the home of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot. This army group later moved to a new place in Omagh in 1875. They eventually became known as the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1881.

Other army groups used the barracks too. From 1939, it was home to the North Irish Horse, which was a part of the Territorial Army. The barracks stopped being used by the military in 1950. After that, the castle was opened to the public as a place to learn about history.

What You Can See at the Castle

Castle Design and Features

Enniskillen Castle has two main parts. There's a tall central tower, called a keep. It also has a strong outer wall with small towers called bartizans. The way the castle is built shows strong influences from Scottish castles.

You can really see this in the Watergate tower. It has two round towers that stick out, built around 1609. The castle is now a special place called a State Care Historic Monument. This means it's protected by the government because it's very important to history.

Museums and Collections

Today, the castle is home to the Fermanagh County Museum. This museum teaches you all about the history of County Fermanagh. You can learn about ancient times, nature, old ways of life, local crafts, and even Belleek Pottery. There's also information about the Maguire family, who first built the castle.

The castle also has the Inniskillings Museum. This museum tells the story of two famous army groups: the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. It's a great place to learn about military history!