Fermanagh County Museum

About the museum

Fermanagh County Museum is housed in Enniskillen Castle, which stands beside a narrow crossing of the River Erne. The castle is around 600 years old and is credited to Hugh 'The Hospitable' Maguire, a leader of the Gaelic Maguire family, in the 1420s. The twin-turreted Watergate dates from the 17th-century Plantation, when it was built for the castle's constable, William Cole.

The site developed over the centuries from a medieval stronghold into a Plantation castle, a garrison fort and a military barracks. A new visitor centre opened in 2016. Today the site is run as Enniskillen Castle Museums and has six buildings and castle grounds to explore, with views over the town and the lakeland waterways.

The galleries of Fermanagh County Museum present the heritage of the Lakelands county. They begin with the earliest settlers and life on a crannog, an artificial island dwelling, and continue to the Medieval Maguires Gallery in the oldest rooms in Enniskillen and a journey around the monastic sites of Lough Erne. The museum also holds an art collection with works by William Scott and T.P. Flanagan and rare pieces of Belleek Pottery. The Inniskillings Museum, the regimental museum, is in the same castle and is covered by the same ticket.

Highlights

• Medieval Maguires Gallery in the oldest rooms in Enniskillen
• Crannog and early settlers gallery
• Art by William Scott and T.P. Flanagan
• Belleek Pottery
• Historic castle site with the Watergate and riverside walkway

Permanent exhibitions

• Fermanagh County Museum galleries – Galleries on the earliest settlers and crannog life, the Medieval Maguires, the Lough Erne monastic pilgrimage route, and an art collection with Belleek Pottery.
• Enniskillen Castle – The historic castle site with six buildings, the Watergate, and a garden and walkway with views over the town and the lakeland waterways.

Founded

1976

Operated by

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the historic castle site and the museum displays, including both Fermanagh County Museum and The Inniskillings Museum. The prices are valid until 31 March 2027. Entry to the visitor centre, with the information centre, shop, café and toilets, is free. Museum Friends have free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift serves the first floor of the visitor centre, and a portable hearing loop is available at reception. A Castle Explorer wheelchair can be pre-booked. Entrance doors are wide and automatic, and Blue Badge spaces are in the car park opposite the entrance, with a drop-off point beside the front door. Assistance dogs are welcome. A visual guide and a social story are available to download.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The castle is on Wellington Road, within easy walking distance of the town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The visitor centre has a gift shop. The Castle Café is in the visitor centre, but the museum’s access page says it is currently closed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The castle can be hired for events, and the Glass Room studio in the visitor centre can be hired for meetings or activities.

Plan your visit