View source for County Fermanagh

{{Short description|County in Northern Ireland}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Fermanagh]], an ancient Gaelic kingdom}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = County Fermanagh
| native_name        = {{native name|ga|Contae Fhear Manach}}<br />''Coontie Fermanay'' ([[Ulster Scots dialect|Ulster-Scots]])
| settlement_type    = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| image_shield       = Ferm arms.png
| shield_size        = 120px
| nickname           = The Lakeland County
| motto = {{force singular}} ''Feor Magh Eanagh'' {{spaces|2}}([[Irish language|Irish]])<br />"the Country of the Lakes"
| image_map          = Island_of_Ireland_location_map_Fermanagh.svg
| area_total_km2     = 1851
| area_land_km2      = 1691
| area_rank          = [[List of Irish counties by area|25th]]
| seat_type          = [[County town#Historic counties of Northern Ireland|County town]]
| seat               = [[Enniskillen]]
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| elevation_max_m    = 665
| elevation_max_point = [[Cuilcagh]]
| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset         = ±0
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| website            = 
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom|Postcode area]]
| postal_code        = [[BT postcode area|BT]]
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1584/85
| population         = 63585
| population_rank    = [[List of Irish counties by population|29th]]<ref name="CAIN">{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ni/popul.htm|title=Background Information on Northern Ireland Society – Population and Vital Statistics|publisher=Cain.ulst.ac.uk|access-date=20 October 2012|archive-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206105725/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ni/popul.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2021
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Northern Ireland]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Ulster]]
| footnotes          = ''Contae Fhear Manach'' is the [[Irish language|Irish]] name; ''Countie Fermanagh'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_annual_report_2004_-_uslter_scots-2.pdf |title=North-South Ministerial Council: 2004 Annual Report in Ulster Scots |publisher=Northsouthministerialcouncil.org |access-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902235901/https://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_annual_report_2004_-_uslter_scots-2.pdf |archive-date=2 September 2012}}</ref> ''Coontie Fermanagh''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourismireland.com/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=dd88f67c-d3bd-465b-800d-b7fe8244f3cf |title=Tourism Ireland: Yierly Report 2007 |publisher=Tourismireland.com |access-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717083407/http://www.tourismireland.com/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=dd88f67c-d3bd-465b-800d-b7fe8244f3cf |archive-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> and ''Coontie Fermanay''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dungannon.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/Ulsterscotch |title=Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council |publisher=Dungannon.gov.uk |access-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408052025/http://www.dungannon.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/Ulsterscotch |archive-date=8 April 2013}}</ref> are [[Ulster Scots dialects|Ulster Scots]] spellings (the latter used only by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council).
| official_name      = 
| area_code          = 028
}}
'''County Fermanagh''' ({{IPAc-en|f|ər|ˈ|m|æ|n|ə}} {{respell|fər|MAN|ə}}; {{Irish derived place name|Fir Manach / Fear Manach|men of Manach}}) is one of the [[Counties of Ireland|thirty-two counties]] of [[Ireland]], one of the nine counties of [[Ulster]] and one of the [[Counties of Northern Ireland|six counties]] of [[Northern Ireland]].

The county covers an area of {{convert|1,691|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and had a population of 63,585 as of 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=County |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&%7ECOUNTY_NI=5 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Build or find Census 2021 tables {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref> [[Enniskillen]] is the [[county town]] and largest in both size and population.

Fermanagh is one of four counties of Northern Ireland to have a majority of its population from a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] background, according to the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]].<ref name="CAIN"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Cuilcagh Stairway.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Cuilcagh]] range, on the Cavan/Fermanagh border.]]
[[File:Lower Lough Erne - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|Lower [[Lough Erne]]]]

Fermanagh spans an area of 1,851&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (715&nbsp;sq;&nbsp;mi), accounting for 13.2% of the landmass of Northern Ireland. Nearly a third of the county is covered by lakes and waterways, including Upper and Lower [[Lough Erne]] and the [[River Erne]]. Forests cover 14% of the landmass (42,000 hectares).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/County+Fermanagh |title=County Fermanagh – definition of County Fermanagh by The Free Dictionary |website=Thefreedictionary.com |access-date=2016-08-17 |archive-date=21 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621012003/http://www.thefreedictionary.com/County+Fermanagh |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the only county in Northern Ireland that does not border [[Lough Neagh]].

The county has three prominent upland areas: 
* the expansive [[Knockmore|West Fermanagh Scarplands]] to the southwest of Lough Erne, which rise to about 350m,
* the [[Sliabh Beagh]] hills, situated to the east on the Monaghan border, and 
* the Cuilcagh mountain range, located along Fermanagh's southern border, which contains [[Cuilcagh]], the county's highest point, at 665m.

The county borders:
* [[County Tyrone]] to the north-east, 
* [[County Monaghan]] to the south-east, 
* [[County Cavan]] to the south-west, 
* [[County Leitrim]] to the west, and 
* [[County Donegal]] to the north-west.

Fermanagh is by far the least populous of Northern Ireland's six counties, with just over one-third the population of [[County Tyrone|Tyrone]], the next least populous county.

It is approximately {{convert|120|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Belfast]] and {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Dublin]]. The county town, Enniskillen, is the largest settlement in Fermanagh, situated in the middle of the county.

The county enjoys a [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb''') with cool winters, mild humid summers, and a lack of temperature extremes, according to the [[Köppen climate classification]].

The [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty]] manages three sites of historic and natural beauty in the county: [[Crom Estate]], [[Florence Court]], and [[Castle Coole]].

===Geology===
The oldest sediments in the county are found north of Lough Erne. These so-called [[red beds]] were formed approximately 550 million years ago. Extensive [[sandstone]] can be found in the eastern part of the county, laid down during the [[Devonian]], 400 million years ago. Much of the rest of the county's sediments are [[shale]] and [[limestone]] dating from the [[Carboniferous]], 354 to 298 million years ago. These softer sediments have produced extensive cave systems such as the [[Shannon Cave]], the [[Marble Arch Caves]] and the [[Caves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hills]]. The carboniferous shale exists in several counties of northwest Ireland, an area known colloquially as the [[Lough Allen]] basin. The basin is estimated to contain 9.4 trillion cubic metres of [[natural gas]], equivalent to 1.5 billion [[Barrel (unit)|barrels of oil]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/what-s-your-fracking-problem-1.594199|title=What's your fracking problem?|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=6 May 2018|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628182751/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/what-s-your-fracking-problem-1.594199|url-status=live}}</ref>

The county is situated over a sequence of prominent faults, primarily the [[Killadeas – Seskinore Fault]], the [[Tempo – Sixmilecross Fault]], the [[Belcoo Fault]] and the [[Clogher Valley Fault]] which cross-cuts Lough Erne.

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}
The Menapii are the only known Celtic tribe specifically named on [[Ptolemy]]'s 150 AD map of [[Ireland]], where they located their first colony—Menapia—on the [[Leinster]] coast {{circa|216 BC}}. They later settled around [[Lough Erne]], becoming known as the Fir Manach, and giving their name to [[Fermanagh]] and [[Monaghan]]. [[Mongán mac Fiachnai]], a 7th-century King of [[Ulster]], is the protagonist of several legends linking him with [[Manannán mac Lir]]. They spread across [[Ireland]], evolving into historic Irish (also Scottish and Manx) clans.

The [[Annals of Ulster]] which cover medieval Ireland between AD 431 to AD 1540 were written at Belle Isle on [[Lough Erne]] near [[Lisbellaw]].

In the early 9th century, the Erne was considered to be the boundary of [[Connacht]] and [[Ulster]], specifically the over-kingdom of [[Airgíalla]]. The Fir Manach proper, [[Tirkennedy]] and [[Magherastephana]], along with [[Clankelly]] were part of the western Airgíalla group-kingdom of Uí Creamthainn with its seat at [[Clogher]], whereas [[Lurg]] was associated with the northern Airgíalla branch of Uí Fiachrach centred at [[Ardstraw]].

Fermanagh was a stronghold of the [[Maguire of Fermanagh|Maguire clan]] and Donn Carrach Maguire (died 1302) was the first of the chiefs of the Maguire dynasty. However, on the confiscation of lands relating to [[Hugh Maguire (Lord of Fermanagh)|Hugh Maguire]], Fermanagh was divided in a similar manner to the other five escheated counties among Scottish and English undertakers and native Irish. The baronies of [[Knockninny]] and [[Magheraboy]] were allotted to Scottish undertakers, those of [[Clankelly]], [[Magherastephana]] and [[Lurg]] to English undertakers and those of [[Clanawley]], [[Coole (barony)|Coole]], and [[Tirkennedy|Tyrkennedy]], to servitors and natives. The chief families to benefit under the new settlement were the families of Cole, Blennerhasset, Butler, Hume, and Dunbar.

Fermanagh was made into a county by a statute of [[Elizabeth I]], but it was not until the time of the [[Plantation of Ulster]] that it was finally brought under civil government.

The closure of all the lines of [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] within County Fermanagh in 1957 left the county as the first non-island county in the UK without a railway service.

==Administration==
{{Historical populations
|state=collapsed
|1653|5498
|1659|7102
|1821|130997
|1831|149763
|1841|156481
|1851|116047
|1861|105768
|1871|92794
|1881|84879
|1891|74170
|1901|65430
|1911|61836
|1926|57984
|1937|54569
|1951|53044
|1961|51531
|1966|49886
|1971|50255
|1981|51594
|1991|54033
|2001|57527
|2011|61805
|2021|footnote=<ref>For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy 14 March 1865.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.ie/census|title=Central Statistics Office: 2011 Census|publisher=Cso.ie|access-date=20 October 2012|archive-date=9 March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.histpop.org|title=Histpop – The Online Historical Population Reports Website|publisher=Histpop.org|access-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/|archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="2011 Census"/><ref>{{Cite book
|last=Lee
|first=JJ
|editor-last=Goldstrom
|editor-first=J. M.
|editor2-last=Clarkson
|editor2-first=L. A.
|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell
|year=1981
|publisher=Clarendon Press
|location=Oxford, England
|chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
  | last1 = Mokyr
  | first1 = Joel
  | author-link = Joel Mokyr
  | last2 = O Grada
  | first2 = Cormac
  | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850
  | journal = The Economic History Review
  | volume =  37
  | issue =  4
  | pages = 473–488
  |date=November 1984
  | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 2012-12-04
  | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x
| hdl =10197/1406
  | hdl-access = free
  }}</ref>
|63585}}

The county was administered by [[Fermanagh County Council]] from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents|title=Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=29 November 2019|archive-date=30 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030152505/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents|url-status=live}}</ref> With the creation of Northern Ireland's district councils, [[Fermanagh District Council]] became the only one of the 26 that contained all of the county from which it derived its name. After the re-organisation of local government in 2015, Fermanagh was still the only county wholly within one council area, namely [[Fermanagh and Omagh District Council]], albeit that it constituted only a part of that entity.

For the purposes of elections to the UK Parliament, the territory of Fermanagh is part of the [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone Parliamentary Constituency]]. This constituency elected [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]] [[hunger strike|hunger-striker]] [[Bobby Sands]] as a member of parliament in the [[April 1981 Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election]], shortly before his death.

==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title = Religious Background in Fermanagh (2021)<ref name="religion 2021"/>
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=Per cent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|[[Catholic]]|DarkOrchid|58.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant]] and Other Christian|Blue|35.5}}
{{bar percent|None|grey|4.6}}
{{bar percent|Other faiths|grey|1.1}}
}}

=== 2011 census ===
On Census Day (27 March 2011), the usually resident population of [[Fermanagh District Council|Fermanagh Local Government District]], the borders of the district were very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh, was 61,805. Of these:<ref name="2011 Census">{{cite web |title=Census 2011 Population Statistics for Fermanagh Local Government District |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Fermanagh@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Fermanagh@3? |access-date=23 February 2022 |website=NISRA}} [[File:Open Government Licence logo.svg|30x30px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>
 
*0.93% were from an ethnic minority population and the remaining 99.07% were white (including Irish Traveller)
*59.16% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 37.78% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion
*37.20% indicated that they had a British national identity, 36.08% had an Irish national identity and 29.53% had a Northern Irish national identity

===2021 Census===
On Census Day (2021), the usually resident population of [[Fermanagh District Council|Fermanagh Local Government District]], the borders of the district were very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh, was 63,585. Of these:<ref name="religion 2021">{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ECOUNTY_NI=5 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>

*58.8% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 35.5% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion.

=== Community background and religion ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Religion or religion brought up in (2021 Census)<ref name="religion 2021"/>
!Religion or religion brought up in
!Number
!(%)
|-
|Catholic
|37,399
|58.8
|-
|Protestant and other Christian
|22,559
|35.5
|-
|None (no religion)
|2,947
|4.6
|-
|Other
|680
|1.1
|-
!Total
!63,585
!100.0
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Religion (2021 Census)<ref name=":0" />
!Religion
!Number
!(%)
|-
!Christian
!55,892
!87.9
|-
|[[Catholic Church in Ireland|Catholic]]
|35,412
|55.7
|-
|[[Church of Ireland]]
|13,065
|20.5
|-
|[[Methodist Church in Ireland|Methodist]]
|2,552
|4.0
|-
|[[Presbyterian Church in Ireland|Presbyterian]]
|1,989
|3.1
|-
|Other Christian (including Christian related)
|2,874
|4.5
|-
|''Protestant and Other Christian: Total''
|''20,480''
|''32.2''
|-
!Other
!601
!0.9
|-
|[[Islam]]
|216
|0.3
|-
|[[Hinduism]]
|50
|0.08
|-
|Other religions
|335
|0.5
|-
!None/not stated
!7,092
!11.2
|-
|No religion
|5,885
|9.3
|-
|Religion not stated 
|1,207
|1.9
|-
!Total 
!63,585
!100.0
|}

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ethnic group (2021 Census)<ref name=":0" />
!Ethnic group
!Number
!(%)
|-
![[White people|White]]: Total
!62,583
!98.4
|-
|White: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh <br>(with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)
|60,244
|94.7
|-
|White: Other
|2,199
|3.5
|-
|White: [[Irish Travellers|Irish Traveller]]
|135
|0.2
|-
|White: [[Romani people|Roma]]
|4
|0.006
|-
!Other ethnic groups: Total
!1,002
!1.6
|-
|[[Asian people|Asian]] or [[British Asians|Asian British]]
|501
|0.8
|-
|[[Black people|Black]] or [[Black British people|Black British]]
|122
|0.2
|-
|[[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
|304
|0.5
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|75
|0.1
|-
!Total
!63,585
!100.0
|}

=== Country of birth ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Country of birth, 2021 Census<ref name=":0" />
!Country of birth
!Number
!(%)
|-
!United Kingdom and Ireland
!60,433
!95.0
|-
|[[Northern Ireland]]
|52,063
|81.9
|-
|[[England]]
|3,477
|5.5
|-
|[[Scotland]]
|420
|0.7
|-
|[[Wales]]
|98
|0.2
|-
|[[Republic of Ireland]]
|4,375
|6.9
|-
!Europe
!2,139
!3.4
|-
|[[European Union]]
|2,047
|3.2
|-
|Other non-EU countries
|92
|0.2
|-
!Rest of World
!1,013
!1.6
|-
|[[Middle East]] and [[Asia]]
|468
|0.7
|-
|[[North America]], [[Central America]] and [[Caribbean]]
|243
|0.4
|-
|[[Africa]]
|187
|0.3
|-
|[[Antarctica]], [[Oceania]] and Other
|85
|0.1
|-
|[[South America]]
|30
|0.05
|-
!Total
!63,585
!100.0
|}

=== Main languages ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Main languages of all usual residents over the age of 3 (2021 Census)<ref name=":0" />
!Main language
!Usual residents aged 3+
!(%)
|-
|[[English language|English]]
|59,081
|96.4
|-
|[[Polish language|Polish]]
|649
|1.1
|-
|[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]
|389
|0.6
|-
|[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]
|200
|0.3
|-
|[[Irish language|Irish]]
|138
|0.2
|-
|[[Latvian language|Latvian]]
|115
|0.2
|-
|All other languages
|745
|1.2
|-
!Total (usual residents aged 3+)
!61,316
!100.0
|}

=== Knowledge of Irish ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ability in Irish of all usual residents over the age of 3 (2021 Census)<ref name=":0" />
!Ability in Irish
!Number
!(%)
|-
|Speaks, reads, writes and understands Irish
|2,703
|4.4
|-
|Speaks and reads but does not write Irish
|509
|0.8
|-
|Speaks but does not read or write Irish
|2,336
|3.8
|-
|Understands but does not read, write or speak Irish
|3,114
|5.1
|-
|Other combination of skills
|929
|1.5
|-
!Has some knowledge of Irish: Total
!9,591
!15.6
|-
|No ability in Irish
|51,725
|84.4
|-
!Total (usual residents aged 3+)
!61,316
!100.0
|}

* In County Fermanagh, 1.91% claim to use Irish daily and 0.22% claim that Irish is their main language.

=== Knowledge of Ulster Scots ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ability in Ulster Scots of all usual residents over the age of 3 (2021 Census)<ref name=":0" />
!Ability in Ulster Scots
!Number
!(%)
|-
|Speaks, reads, writes and understands Ulster Scots
|490
|0.8
|-
|Speaks and reads but does not write Ulster Scots
|319
|0.5
|-
|Speaks but does not read or write Ulster Scots
|1,194
|1.9
|-
|Understands but does not read, write or speak Ulster Scots
|2,468
|4.0
|-
|Other combination of skills
|395
|0.6
|-
!Has some knowledge of Ulster Scots: Total
!4,866
!7.9
|-
|No ability in Ulster Scots
|56,450
|92.1
|-
!Total (usual residents aged 3+)
!61,316
!100.0
|}

* 0.99% claim to use Ulster Scots daily in County Fermanagh.

=== National identity ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+National identity (2021 Census)<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ECOUNTY_NI=5 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ECOUNTY_NI=5 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ECOUNTY_NI=5 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National identity (person based) - basic detail (classification 1) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_BASIC&%7ECOUNTY_NI=5 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>
!National identity
!Number
!%
|-
|Irish only
|24,341
|38.3%
|-
|British only
|16,678
|26.2%
|-
|Northern Irish only
|13,543
|21.3%
|-
|British and Northern Irish only
|2,863
|4.5%
|-
|Irish and Northern Irish only
|1,168
|1.8%
|-
|British, Irish and Northern Irish only
|602
|0.9%
|-
|British and Irish only
|305
|0.5%
|-
|Other identity
|4,086
|6.4%
|-
!Total
!63,585
!100.0%
|-
!All Irish identities
!26,653
!41.9%
|-
!All British identities
!20,920
!32.9%
|-
!All Northern Irish identities
!18,481
!29.1%
|}

==Industry and tourism==
Agriculture and tourism are two of the most important industries in Fermanagh. The main types of farming in the area are beef, dairy, sheep, pigs and some poultry. Most of the agricultural land is used as grassland for grazing and silage or hay rather than for other crops.

The waterways are extensively used by cabin cruisers, other small pleasure craft and anglers. The main town of Fermanagh is [[Enniskillen]] ({{lang|ga|Inis Ceithleann}}, 'Ceithleann's island'). The island town hosts a range of attractions including the [[Castle Coole]] Estate and [[Enniskillen Castle]], which is home to the museum of The [[Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers]] and the [[5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards]]. Fermanagh is also home to The Boatyard Distillery, a distillery producing [[gin]].

Attractions outside Enniskillen include:
* [[Belleek Pottery Ltd|Belleek Pottery]]
* [[Castle Archdale]]
* [[Crom Estate]]
* [[Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail]]
* [[Devenish Island]]
* [[Florence Court]]
* [[Marble Arch Caves]]
* [[Tempo, County Fermanagh|Tempo Manor]]

==Settlements==
The classification of settlements by NISRA defines six categories following the 2011 census (ignoring Belfast and Derry City which have their own separate categories), namely; Large towns, Medium towns, Small towns, Intermediate settlements, Villages and Small villages or hamlets. The majority of the settlements in County Fermanagh lie within the final category, five within the village category and one each in the intermediate settlements and medium towns categories. No settlements in the county are classified as Large towns or Small towns.

=== Large towns ===
(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2011 Census)<ref name="NI">{{cite web | title=Statistical classification of settlements | work=NI Neighbourhood Information Service | url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm | access-date=23 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217122433/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm | archive-date=17 February 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* none

===Medium towns===
(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2011 Census)<ref name="NI"/>
* [[Enniskillen]]

===Small towns===
(population of 5,000 or more and under 10,000 at 2011 Census)<ref name="NI"/>
* none

===Intermediate settlements===
(population of 2,500 or more and under 4,500 at 2011 Census)<ref name="NI"/>
* [[Lisnaskea]]

===Villages===
(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,500 at 2011 Census)<ref name="NI"/>
* [[Ballinamallard]]
* [[Irvinestown]]
* [[Kesh, County Fermanagh|Kesh]]
* [[Lisbellaw]]
* [[Maguiresbridge]]

===Small villages or hamlets===
(population of less than 1,000 at 2011 Census)<ref name="NI"/>
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Aghadrumsee]]
* [[Arney]]
* [[Ballycassidy]]
* [[Belcoo]]
* [[Bellanaleck]]
* [[Belleek, County Fermanagh|Belleek]]
* [[Boho, County Fermanagh|Boho]]
* [[Brookeborough]]
* [[Carrybridge]]
* [[Clabby]]
* [[Coa, Northern Ireland|Coa]]
* [[Derrygonnelly]]
* [[Derrylin]]
* [[Donagh]]
* [[Ederney]]
* [[Florencecourt]]
* [[Garrison, County Fermanagh|Garrison]]
* [[Killadeas]]
* [[Killesher]]
* [[Kinawley]]
* [[Lack, County Fermanagh|Lack]]
* [[Letterbreen]]
* [[Lisnarick, County Fermanagh|Lisnarick]]
* [[Magheraveely]]
* [[Monea]]
* [[Newtownbutler]]
* [[Pettigo]] (partially)
* [[Rosslea]]
* [[Springfield, County Fermanagh|Springfield]]
* [[Tamlaght, County Fermanagh|Tamlaght]]
* [[Teemore]]
* [[Tempo, County Fermanagh|Tempo]]
* [[Wattlebridge]]
}}

===Population of Settlements===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Settlement
!Irish
!2001 Population
!2011 Population
!2021 Population
|-
|Arney / Skea||an Arna / Sceach||114||125||134
|-
|Ballinamallard||Béal Átha na Mallacht||1,340||1,432||1,364
|-
|Ballycassidy / Laragh / Trory||Baile Uí Chaiside / Lathrach / Treabhraigh||315||363||357
|-
|Belcoo / Holywell||Béal Cú / Dabhach Phádraig||486||540||439
|-
|Bellanaleck||Bealach na Leice||213||532||714
|-
|Belleek||Béal Leice||836||904||968
|-
|Brookeborough||Achadh Lon||517||452||438
|-
|Clabby||Clabaigh||198||268||282
|-
|Derrygonnelly||Doire Ó gConaíle||594||678||574
|-
|Derrylin||Doire Loinne||423||640||656
|-
|Donagh||Domhnach||255||179||164
|-
|Ederney||Eadarnaidh||554||587||553
|-
|Enniskillen||Inis Ceithleann||13,599||13,790||14,120
|-
|Florencecourt / Drumlaghy||Mullach na Seangán / Druim Lathaighe||135||91||102
|-
|Garrison||an Garastún||357||351||392
|-
|Irvinestown||Na Cairn / Baile an Irbhinigh||1,801||2,264||2,320
|-
|Kesh||an Cheis||972||1,036||1,101
|-
|Killadeas||Cill Chéile Dé||90||63||82
|-
|Killesher / Derrylester||Cill Laisre / Doire an Leastair||N/A||N/A||59
|-
|Kinawley||Cill Náile||75||141||142
|-
|Lack||an Leac||114||111||111
|-
|Letterbreen||Leitir Bhruín||N/A||68||51
|-
|Lisbellaw||Lios Béal Átha||1,046||1,102||1,085
|-
|Lisnarick||Lios na nDaróg||219||238||203
|-
|Lisnaskea||Lios na Scéithe||2,739||2,960||3,006
|-
|Magheraveely||Machaire Mhílic||N/A||66||N/A
|-
|Maguiresbridge||Droichead Mhig Uidhir||774||1,038||1,029
|-
|Monea||Maigh Niadh||114||206||248
|-
|Newtownbutler||an Baile Nua||943||987||972
|-
|Pettigo (Portion in Co. Fermanagh)||Paiteagó||81||63||76
|-
|Roslea||Ros Liath||554||528||482
|-
|Springfield||Achadh an Fhuaráin||69||73||69
|-
|Tamlaght||Tamhlacht||276||409||341
|-
|Teemore||an Tigh Mór||N/A||184||161
|-
|Tempo||an tIompú Deiseal||533||489||458
|-
|}
Population statistics were not made available from the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses, where noted with an "N/A".

==Subdivisions==
'''Baronies'''

[[File:Baronies of Fermanagh.png|thumb|right|400px|Baronies of County Fermanagh within Northern Ireland with civil parish boundaries]]
{{Main|Baronies of Ireland}}
*[[Clanawley]]
*[[Clankelly]]
*[[Coole (barony)|Coole]]
*[[Knockninny]]
*[[Lurg]]
*[[Magheraboy]]
*[[Magherastephana]]
*[[Tirkennedy]]
'''Parishes'''
{{Main|List of civil parishes of County Fermanagh}}
'''Townlands'''
{{Main|List of townlands in County Fermanagh}}

==Media==
'''Newspapers'''
* ''[[The Fermanagh Herald]]''
* ''[[The Impartial Reporter]]''

==Education==
There are 41 primary schools currently in operation in County Fermanagh, 10 secondary schools, one special school and one further education college.

'''Primary Schools'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''Aghadrumsee Primary School''
* ''Ballinamallard Primary School''
* ''Belleek Primary School''
* ''Brookeborough Primary School''
* ''Bunscoil an Traonaigh, Lisnaskea''-The only Irish Medium School in the county
* ''Derrygonnelly Primary School''
* ''Enniskillen Integrated Primary School''
* ''Enniskillen Model Primary School''
* ''Florencecourt Primary School''
* ''Holy Trinity Primary School'' -Amalgamation of St. Theresa's and St. Michael's PS
* ''Irvinestown Primary School''
* ''Jones Memorial Primary School''
* ''Kesh Primary School''
* ''Killyhommon Primary School, Boho''
* ''Lack Primary School''
* ''Lisbellaw Primary School''
* ''Maguiresbridge Primary School''
* ''Moat Primary School, Lisnaskea''
* ''St Columban's Primary School, Belcoo''
* ''St Davog's Primary School, Belleek''
* ''St John the Baptist Primary School, Roscor''
* ''St Joseph's Primary School, Donagh''
* ''St Joseph's Primary School, Ederney''
* ''St Macartan's Primary School, Aghadrumsee'' - Amalgamation of Cornagague PS, Magheraveely and Corranny PS
* ''St Martin's Primary School, Garrison''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Brookeborough''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Killesher''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Maguiresbridge''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Arney''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Newtownbutler''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Teemore''
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Tempo''
* ''St Naile's Primary School, Kinawley''
* ''St Ninnidh's Primary School, Derrylin''
* ''St Patrick's Primary School, Derrygonnelly''
* ''St Patrick's Primary School, Mullanaskea''
* ''St Paul's Primary School, Irvinestown''
* ''St Ronan's Primary School, Lisnaskea''
* ''St Tierney's Primary School, Roslea''
* ''Tattygar Primary School, Lisbellaw''
* ''Tempo Primary School''
}}
'''Secondary Schools'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''Devenish College, Enniskillen'' - Amalgamation of Ballinamallard Duke of Westminster, Kesh Duke of Westminster and Lisnaskea High School
* ''Enniskillen Royal Grammar School'' - Amalgamation of Potora Royal School and Collegiate Grammar School
* ''Erne Integrated College, Enniskillen''
* ''Mount Lourdes Grammar School, Enniskillen'' - Girls Catholic Grammar
* ''Saint Kevin's College, Lisnaskea''- Amalgamation of St Eugene's College, Roslea and St. Comhghall's College, Lisnaskea
* ''St Aidan's High School, Derrylin''
* ''St Fanchea's College, Enniskillen''
* ''St Joseph's College, Enniskillen''
* ''St Mary's College, Irvinestown''
* ''St Michael's College, Enniskillen'' - Boys Catholic Grammar
}}
'''Further Education College'''
* ''South West College, Enniskillen Campus''
'''Special School'''
* ''Willowbridge Special School''
'''Closed Schools'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/15823126.fermanagh-schools-five-former-school-buildings-lie-empty-unused|access-date=2 January 2024|archive-date=3 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103103000/https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/15823126.fermanagh-schools-five-former-school-buildings-lie-empty-unused/|url-status=bot: unknown|title=Fermanagh schools: Five former school buildings lie empty and unused|date=16 January 2018}}</ref> 
* ''St Mary's High School, Belleek'' -Brollagh Closed 2021
* ''St. Eugene’s College, Roslea'' - Closed 2017
* ''St. Eugene’s Primary School, Knocks'' - Closed 2013
* ''Lisnaskea High School'' - Closed 2013
* ''Corranny Primary School'' - Closed 2012
* ''Cornagague Primary School''- Closed 2012
* ''Duke of Westminster High School, Ballinamallard'' - Closed 2004
* ''Kesh Duke of Westminster'' - Closed 2004
* ''Ashwoods Primary School'' - Closed 1968
* ''St Mary's Primary School, Bannagh'' - Closed 1960/70s

==Sport==
{{main|Fermanagh GAA}}
Fermanagh GAA has never won a Senior Provincial or an All-Ireland title in any Gaelic games, it is only one of two counties to win neither title. There are 22 GAA clubs in the county, this is the second least of all 32 counties (Longford now has the least, with 21 GAA clubs).

Only [[Ballinamallard United F.C.]] take part in the [[Northern Ireland football league system]]. All other Fermanagh clubs play in the [[Fermanagh & Western FA]] league systems. [[Fermanagh Mallards F.C.]] played in the [[Women's Premier League (Northern Ireland)|Women's Premier League]] until 2013.

Enniskillen RFC was founded in 1925 and is still going.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.enniskillenrfc.com/|title=StackPath|website=www.enniskillenrfc.com|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503110940/http://www.enniskillenrfc.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> There is also a rugby league team, the [[Rugby league in Ireland#Ulster League|Fermanagh Redskins]]

Famous football players from Fermanagh include –

* [[Sandy Fulton]]
* [[Jim Cleary (Northern Irish footballer)|Jim Cleary]]
*[[Roy Carroll]]
* [[Harry Chatton]]
* [[Barry Owens]]
* [[Kyle Lafferty]]

==Notable people==
{{See also|Category:People from County Fermanagh}}
Famous people born, raised in or living in Fermanagh include: 
<!-- (Please make additions in alphabetical order.) -->
* [[John Armstrong, Sr.|John Armstrong]] (1717–1795), born in Fermanagh, Major General in the Continental Army and delegate in the [[Continental Congress]]<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{Cite book| title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Beckett]] (1906–1989), author and playwright from [[Foxrock]] in [[Dublin]], educated at [[Portora Royal School]]
* Darren Breslin, traditional musician
* [[Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough|The 1st Viscount Brookeborough]], [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]], 1943–1963
* [[Denis Parsons Burkitt]] (1911–1993), doctor, discoverer of [[Burkitt's lymphoma]]
* [[Roy Carroll]] (born 1977), association footballer
* [[Edward Cooney]] (1867–1960), evangelist and early leader of the [[Cooneyite]] and [[Two by Twos|Go-Preachers]]
* [[Brian D'Arcy]] (born 1945), C.P., Passionist priest and media personality
* [[Brendan Dolan]] (born 1973), professional darts player for the [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]]
* [[Adrian Dunbar]] (born 1958), actor
* [[Arlene Foster|Arlene Foster, Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee]] (born 1970), politician
* [[Neil Hannon]] (born 1970), musician
* [[Robert Kerr (athlete)|Robert Kerr]] (1882–1963), athlete and Olympic gold medalist
* [[Kyle Lafferty]] (born 1987), Northern Ireland International association footballer
* [[Charles Lawson]] (born 1959), actor (plays Jim McDonald in ''Coronation Street'')
* [[Francis Little (American politician)|Francis Little]] (1822–1890), born in Fermanagh, [[Wisconsin Senate|Wisconsin State Senator]]
* [[Terence MacManus]] (c. 1823–1861), leader in [[Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848]]
* [[Michael Magner]] (1840–97), recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]]
* [[Peter McGinnity]], Gaelic footballer, Fermanagh's first winner of an All-Star Award
* [[Martin McGrath (Gaelic footballer)|Martin McGrath]], Gaelic footballer, All-Star winner
* [[Ciarán McMenamin]] (born 1975), actor
* [[Gilla Mochua Ó Caiside]] (12th century), poet
* [[Aurora Mulligan]], director
* [[Barry Owens]], Gaelic footballer, two-time All-Star winner
* [[Sean Quinn]] (born 1947), entrepreneur
* [[Michael Sleavon]] (1826–1902), recipient of the Victoria Cross
* [[Joan Trimble]] (1915–2000), pianist and composer
* [[Oscar Wilde]] (1854–1900), author and playwright, educated at [[Portora Royal School]]
* [[Gordon Wilson (peace campaigner)|Gordon Wilson]] (1927–1995), peace campaigner and Irish senator

==Surnames==
The most common surnames in County Fermanagh at the time of the [[United Kingdom Census 1901|United Kingdom Census of 1901]] were:<ref name="fermanagh1901">{{cite web |url=http://forebears.co.uk/northern-ireland/ulster/fermanagh#surnames |title=Fermanagh Genealogy Resources & Parish Registers &#124; Ulster |website=Forebears.co.uk |access-date=2016-08-17 |archive-date=9 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409103712/http://forebears.co.uk/northern-ireland/ulster/fermanagh#surnames}}</ref>
# [[Maguire (surname)|Maguire]]
# [[McManus]]
# [[Johnston (surname)|Johnston]]
# [[Armstrong (surname)|Armstrong]]
# [[Gallagher (surname)|Gallagher]]
# Elliott
# [[Murphy]]
# Reilly
# [[Cassidy (surname)|Cassidy]]
# [[Wilson (name)|Wilson]]

==Railways==
The railway lines in County Fermanagh connected [[Enniskillen railway station]] with [[Derry]] from 1854, [[Dundalk]] from 1861, [[Bundoran]] from 1868 and [[Sligo]] from 1882.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hajducki |first=S. Maxwell |year=1974 |title=A Railway Atlas of Ireland |location=Newton Abbott |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |isbn=0-7153-5167-2 |at=maps 6, 7, 12}}</ref>

The railway companies that served the county, prior to the establishment by the merger of [[Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway]], [[Enniskillen and Bundoran Railway]] the [[Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway]] which was later named the [[Irish North Western Railway]], thus forming the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]]. By 1883 the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] absorbed all the lines except the [[Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway]], which remained independent throughout its existence.

In October 1957 the [[Government of Northern Ireland]] closed the GNR line, which made it impossible for the SL&NCR continue and forced it also to close.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sprinks |first=N.W. |title=Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway |year=1970 |location=Billericay |publisher=Irish Railway Record Society (London Area) }}</ref>

The nearest railway station to Enniskillen is [[Sligo Mac Diarmada Station|Sligo station]] which is served by trains to [[Dublin Connolly]] and is operated by [[Iarnród Éireann]]. The [[Dublin-Sligo railway line]] has a two-hourly service run by Iarnród Éireann. The connecting bus from [[Sligo]] via [[Manorhamilton]] to Enniskillen is route '''66''' operated by [[Bus Éireann]].

==See also==
* [[List of monastic houses in Ireland#County Fermanagh|Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Fermanagh)]]
* [[:Category:Castles in County Fermanagh|Castles in County Fermanagh]]
* [[Extreme points of the United Kingdom]]
* [[High Sheriff of Fermanagh]]
* [[List of parishes of County Fermanagh]]
* [[List of places in County Fermanagh]]
* [[List of townlands in County Fermanagh]]
* [[Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh]]
* [[:Category:People from County Fermanagh|People from County Fermanagh]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* [[Clogher Record]]
* "Fermanagh" A Dictionary of British Place-Names. A. D. Mills. Oxford University Press, 2003. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Northern Ireland Public Libraries. 25 July 2007
* "Fermanagh" Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. 25 July 2007 <[http://library.eb.co.uk/eb/article-9034047 Britannica Library]>.
* Fermanagh: its special landscapes: a study of the Fermanagh countryside and its heritage /Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. – Belfast: HMSO, 1991 {{ISBN|0-337-08276-6}}
* [[Peadar Livingstone|Livingstone, Peadar]]. – The Fermanagh story:a documented history of the County Fermanagh from the earliest times to the present day – Enniskillen: Cumann Seanchais Chlochair, 1969.
* Lowe, Henry N. – County Fermanagh 100 years ago: a guide and directory 1880. – Belfast: Friar's Bush Press, 1990. {{ISBN|0-946872-29-5}}
* Parke, William K. – A Fermanagh Childhood. Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh: Friar's Bush Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-946872-12-0}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928055512/http://www.impartialreporter.com/archive/2002-04-04/frontpage.html Impartial Reporter]
* [http://www.fermanaghherald.com Fermanagh Herald]

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://fermanaghroots.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page A folk history of Fermanagh]

{{Adjacent communities
|North = [[County Tyrone]] [[File:Tyrone arms.svg|30px]]
|South = [[County Cavan]] [[File:Cavan Coat of Arms.png|22px]]
|East = [[County Monaghan]] 
|West = [[County Leitrim]] [[File:County Leitrim arms.svg|30px]]
|Northwest = [[County Donegal]] [[File:Donegalcocologo.png|36px]]
|Centre = County Fermanagh
}}

{{County Fermanagh}}
{{Counties and cities of Northern Ireland}}
{{Ireland counties}}
{{Kingdom of Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:County Fermanagh| ]]
[[Category:Counties of Northern Ireland| ]]