Ederney
Encyclopedia
Ederney or Ederny is a small village and townland
in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 554. Ederney lies in the Glendarragh River Valley close to Lower Lough Erne
and Kesh
. It is 83 miles (133.6 km) from Belfast
, over 100 miles (160.9 km) from Dublin and about 16 miles from both Omagh
and Enniskillen
. Ederney and its hinterland (the Glendarragh Valley area) boast a population of several thousand.
there was a settlement of significance at Ederney when the land grant (titled "Edernagh") was given to Captain Thomas Blennerhassett of Norfolk in 1610. He created the Manor of Edernagh on a 450 acres (1.8 km²) demesne
and a court baron
on the shores of Lough Erne, which he later named Castle Hassett. He also established the new village of Ederney (Edernagh). By 1797, the settlement is recorded in the Topographia Hibernica
as Ederney Bridge and "fair days" were held there.
One of the principal buildings in the village is Ederney Townhall or Ederney Market House as it was first known, was established about 1839 under the instruction Rev.Wm West and was designed by the renowned Dublin-based architect, W D Butler. Originally, there were three bays on the ground floor which housed an open arcade. An upper floor was often used as a hall for social events as well as a school classroom. During a reconstruction in the late 1880s, the open arches were built-up and the building modernised into a two-storey three-bay building.
The main front has a single large arch flanked by small windows at the ground floor and three windows at the upper floor. There is a simple pediment with a circular plaque which now houses the village clock. The side elevation has a single large arch at the lower level and a fine Venetian window at the upper level. In the early part of the 20th century the ground floor was still in use as a market place before being leased to Gracey’s of Enniskillen for an egg packaging depot. The upper floor was used for various uses from the late 1880s to the middle of the 1990s as a school classroom and as theatre and entertainment venue and was the location for Ederney’s first cinema. A separate first floor room was used for meetings by the Masonic lodge. By the late 1980s, the building had become an eyesore having been mostly derelict for several decades. It was taken over by Fermanagh District Council and redeveloped for community use following some local lobbying. Today it is fully operational as a village community centre accommodating for and providing facilities and services for the community.
Another interesting landmark is Drumskinny stone circle. Drumskinny is the site of a stone circle
in the townland
of Drumskinny (Drumskinney), near Ederney. The historic site is easily accessed and consists of 39 stones set in a circle. The arrangement is supposed to be related to the seasons, moon and sun. The site dates from the Bronze Age.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 554. Ederney lies in the Glendarragh River Valley close to Lower Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
and Kesh
Kesh
Kesh may refer to:* Kesh , an ancient Sumerian city and religious center* Kesh, the former name of Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan* Keş, Azerbaijan* Kesh, County Fermanagh, a small village in Northern Ireland* Long Kesh, a prison in Northern Ireland...
. It is 83 miles (133.6 km) from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, over 100 miles (160.9 km) from Dublin and about 16 miles from both Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
and Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. Ederney and its hinterland (the Glendarragh Valley area) boast a population of several thousand.
History
Local historian Leo Mulligan MBE details that at the time of the PlantationPlantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
there was a settlement of significance at Ederney when the land grant (titled "Edernagh") was given to Captain Thomas Blennerhassett of Norfolk in 1610. He created the Manor of Edernagh on a 450 acres (1.8 km²) demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
and a court baron
Court baron
A Court baron is an English or Scottish manorial court dating from the Middle Ages.It was laid down by Sir Edward Coke that a manor had two courts, "the first by the common law, and is called a court baron," the freeholders being its suitors; the other a customary court for the copyholders...
on the shores of Lough Erne, which he later named Castle Hassett. He also established the new village of Ederney (Edernagh). By 1797, the settlement is recorded in the Topographia Hibernica
Topographia Hibernica
Topographia Hibernica , also known as Topographia Hiberniae, is an account of the landscape and people of Ireland written by Gerald of Wales around 1188, soon after the Norman invasion of Ireland...
as Ederney Bridge and "fair days" were held there.
Local attractions
Glendarragh Valley Inn is stated as providing hotel style accommodation, bed & breakfast and fine dining in a large award winning licensed restaurant. The Inn is conveniently positioned geographically for tourists to take advantage of the stunning scenery of the Glendarragh River Valley and the Fermanagh Erne Lakelands with its lakes, tree covered landscapes and islands including many monuments and a wealth of wildlife.One of the principal buildings in the village is Ederney Townhall or Ederney Market House as it was first known, was established about 1839 under the instruction Rev.Wm West and was designed by the renowned Dublin-based architect, W D Butler. Originally, there were three bays on the ground floor which housed an open arcade. An upper floor was often used as a hall for social events as well as a school classroom. During a reconstruction in the late 1880s, the open arches were built-up and the building modernised into a two-storey three-bay building.
Another interesting landmark is Drumskinny stone circle. Drumskinny is the site of a stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Drumskinny (Drumskinney), near Ederney. The historic site is easily accessed and consists of 39 stones set in a circle. The arrangement is supposed to be related to the seasons, moon and sun. The site dates from the Bronze Age.
Notable people
- Michael BarrettMichael Barrett (Fenian)Michael Barrett was born in Drumnagreshial in the Ederney area of County Fermanagh. In his adult years he became a member of the Fenians....
(the last man to be publicly hanged in Britain) - Father Joe McVeigh (priest and civil rightsCivil rightsCivil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist)
2001 Census
Ederney is classified as a small village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 554 people living in Ederney. Of these:- 25.3% were aged under 16 years and 16.8% were aged 60 and over
- 51.8% of the population were male and 48.2% were female
- 84.8% were from a CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
background and 14.4% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 9.4% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
External links
- Ederney.com - Community web site for Ederney and the Glendarragh Valley area/Fermanagh Erne Lakelands Tourism info/
- Glendarragh Valley Inn - Northern Ireland Tourist Board Approved Accommodation and Licensed Restaurant
- St Joseph's Parish Website
- St Joseph's Gaelic Athletic Club
- Fermanagh Gold - A Little History of Ederney