Derrygonnelly
| Derrygonnelly | |
| Fermanagh | |
|---|---|
 Doogies Bar, Derrygonnelly | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | H128503 |
| Location: | 54°24’4"N, 7°48’11"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 594 (2001) |
| Post town: | Enniskillen |
| Postcode: | BT93 |
| Dialling code: | 028 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Fermanagh and Omagh |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
Derrygonnelly is a small village and townland in Fermanagh. Near Lower Lough Erne, the village dates from the time of the Plantation of Ulster. The village was home to 680 people at the 2011 Census.
The name of the townland is from the Irish Doire Ó gConaíle; 'O'Connelly's oak grove'.[1]
The village has a long history of Irish traditional music and each year in early October there is a celebration of local talent in memory of musicians Eddie Duffy and Mick Hoy. Musicians come from all over Ireland and from further afield to enjoy this festival which bases itself in any of Derrygonnelly's four pubs.
History
Derrygonnelly is of ancient origin taking its name from doire or grove of the O'Connelly's it was a site of inauguration for Irish kings.
The village was planted by General Archdale as a Plantation town. The area hosted fairs from the late 18th century but the village itself only really developed as late as 1812 when the long, flat main street was built along the Sillees River. The main road to Enniskillen was known as the Famine Road as it was made during the 1846 famine as a relief scheme.
The townland of Derrygonnelly contains two Scheduled Historic Monuments: Dunbar manor plantation castle (H11875247) and a 17th-century church (H12085240).[2]
Places of interest
The old creamery in Derrygonnelly has been converted into a residential environmental education centre, Tir Navar, run by the Field Studies Council.[3]
Approximately one mile to the northwest of the village are the ruins of Carrick Church; built by Gilbert O'Flanagan in 1483 "In Honour of God and Mary". The church's graveyard was used by the locals until around 1930. Also just north of the village is a small ruined church that combines mediæval and Renaissance features, built in 1627 by Sir John Dunbar. His coat of arms is located over the doorway.
Other 17th-century ruins in the nearby area include Monea Castle and Tully Castle, the latter having been sacked and burned by Rory Maguire on Christmas Day during the 1641 rebellion. As well as Lower Lough Erne to the north, Derrygonnelly is surrounded by small lakes and is split by the Sillees River, which is popular with canoeists.
Four miles outside the village towards Garrison is Correl Glen and Lough Navar Forest Drive. The Forest Drive is a seven-mile walk through Lough Navar Forest and has a viewpoint at the top which overlooks Lower Lough Erne, as far as the Donegal coast to the west and the Sperrin Mountains in Tyrone to the north and east. On the opposite side of the road lies Correl Glen, which features another walking route, with some small waterfalls near the entrance.
Sport
- Gaelic football* The Derrygonnelly Harps, who play on their home ground of Canon Maguire Park.
Outside links
References
- ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ Scheduled Historic Monuments, 1 April 2019: Historic Environment Division, DoCNI
- ↑ "Tir Navar". Northern Ireland Tourist Board. http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Tir-Navar-Derrygonnelly-Enniskillen-P4069. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
