Founded in the 1420s by Hugh 'the Hospitable' Maguire, ruler of the Gaelic Maguire clan, guarding one of the few passes into Ulster via the River Erne. Captured and retaken repeatedly by the O'Neills and O'Donnells, it was rebuilt in the early 17th century by Captain William Cole, whose distinctive turreted Watergate tower remains its most recognisable feature; it now houses the Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum.
Visiting Enniskillen Castle
Yes, museum open to the public
Where to stay nearby
The closest castle hotel is Castle Leslie Estate, 47.9 km away in Glaslough — An earlier castle built in 1608 by Sir Thomas Ridgeway was bought by Bishop Leslie in 1665; the present castle was rebuilt in 1870-71 by Sir John Leslie, and the family still lives on the 1,000-acre estate.
Castle Leslie Estate
Glaslough, Co. Monaghan · 4-star
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