The nearby monument of Sciath Ghabhra is where the Maguires 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)[3] from an early monastery. 19th century buildings include the former market house, corn market and butter market.[4] The Castle Park Leisure Centre is situated just off the main street.[5]
History
The name Lisnaskea comes from Lios na Scéithe meaning "fort of the shield". North of the village, in the townland of Cornashee,[1] is a large burial mound within a round enclosure, which is a scheduled monument.[6] This is believed to be Sciath Ghabhra (Skeagoura), the coronation place of the Maguires, who were kings and chiefs of Fermanagh.[7] 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.[1] There is also evidence of a much earlier ringfort (with radiocarbon dates of 359–428 AD) in the townland of Castle Balfour Demesne,[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
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".[11] 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.[12]
The village came under the control of the Earls of Erne in 1821. They established the market in the town while bolstering and controlling development around the high street.[13]
Lisnaskea Poor Law Union was formally declared on 27 June 1840, and in August 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.
In 1847, additional accommodation was erected for 130 inmates. In the early 1920s, during the Troubles of that time, 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.[15][16]
A large iron pot, said to have held 300 gallons of gruel, rested at one time in its gardens.[4] In July 2011, part of the upper floor of the building was completely gutted in a fire, believed to be malicious.[17]
Roman Catholic School (1970-2017), closed due to a merge with another school. The site of the school is now used for the newly merged school St Kevin's. The last Principal of St Comghalls secondary school, Gary Kelly is now the current Principal Of St Kevins College Lisnakea
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, conference rooms and Wifi access.[24][25]
Demographics
National Identity of Lisnaskea residents (2021)[26][27][28]
Nationality
Per cent
Irish
50.8%
Northern Irish
27.8%
British
20.3%
2021 Census
On Census Day (2021) the usually resident population of Lisnaskea Settlement was 3,020.[29] 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.[30]
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.[31]
2011 Census
On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Lisnaskea Settlement was 2,956, accounting for 0.16% of the NI total.[32]
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 NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).
On Census day (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
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.
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.[4]