Kesh, County Fermanagh
Encyclopedia
Kesh is a village in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. It is on the Kesh River about 1 miles (1.6 km) from Lower Lough Erne
. The 2001 Census
recorded a population of 972 people.
Because of its location close to Lough Erne
the village has been a popular tourist resort. It has two caravan parks, a small attractive marina and other related industries both within its boundaries and the surrounding area. It is about 5 miles (8 km) from the border with the Republic of Ireland
and 22 miles (35.4 km) from the Atlantic coast resort of Rossnowlagh
in County Donegal
, thus adding to its popularity with holiday makers, day-tripper
s and weekenders.
Kesh comes from 'ceis', the Irish word for 'wicker bridge', which refers to the crossing in the middle of the village. The village is unusual in that it is not built around a parish church or chapel. Instead, the two Church of Ireland
parishes of Magherculmoney and Tubrid meet at the river and their respective parish churches are each about 2 miles (3 km) either side of the village.
, which includes a list of incidents in Kesh during the Troubles
resulting in two or more fatalities.
was opened on 13 June 1866 and closed on 1 October 1957.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
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...
. It is on the Kesh River about 1 miles (1.6 km) from 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...
. 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....
recorded a population of 972 people.
Because of its location close to 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...
the village has been a popular tourist resort. It has two caravan parks, a small attractive marina and other related industries both within its boundaries and the surrounding area. It is about 5 miles (8 km) from the border with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and 22 miles (35.4 km) from the Atlantic coast resort of Rossnowlagh
Rossnowlagh
Rossnowlagh or Rosnowlagh is a seaside beach resort in south County Donegal, Ireland. It is about 8.5 km north of Ballyshannon and 16.0 km southwest of Donegal Town. The extensive beach is very popular with families and is frequented by walkers, surfers, wind-surfers, kite-surfers and swimmers,...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, thus adding to its popularity with holiday makers, day-tripper
Day-tripper
A day-tripper is a person who visits a tourist destination or visitor attraction from his/her home and returns home on the same day.- Definition :In other words, this excursion does not involve a night away from home such as experienced on a holiday...
s and weekenders.
Name
The toponymToponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
Kesh comes from 'ceis', the Irish word for 'wicker bridge', which refers to the crossing in the middle of the village. The village is unusual in that it is not built around a parish church or chapel. Instead, the two Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
parishes of Magherculmoney and Tubrid meet at the river and their respective parish churches are each about 2 miles (3 km) either side of the village.
Crevenish Castle
The remains of Crevenish Castle are south-east of the village on the Crevenish Road, or 'the back road' as the locals call it. During its time it was home to the Blennerhasset and Maguire families in the 1600 and 1700s.The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in KeshThe Troubles in Kesh
The Troubles in Kesh recounts incidents during, and the effects of, The Troubles in Kesh, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.Incidents in Kesh during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities:-1984:...
, which includes a list of incidents in Kesh during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
resulting in two or more fatalities.
Local attractions
- Belleek Pottery, world famous producer of Parian china, which is about half an hour's drive away
- Crevenish Castle remains
- Castle ArchdaleCastle ArchdaleCastle Archdale in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland is the home of Castle Archdale Country Park, situated near Irvinestown and owned and run by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.- History :...
Estate and marina, a large amenity that includes gardens, walks, water sports and other facilities; the complex also has a large caravan and camping park - Castle Caldwell is about 20 minutes from Kesh on the BelleekBelleek, County FermanaghBelleek is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. While the greater part of the village lies within County Fermanagh, part of it crosses the border into County Donegal, a part of Ulster that lies in the Republic of Ireland. This makes Belleek the western-most village in the United Kingdom...
road - Drummoney Falls, a local beauty spot on the northern side of the village
- Drumrush Lodge, a restaurant and caravan park that also has a private marina that offers a full range of water sports
- Lough ErneLough ErneLough 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...
is nearby and linked with Kesh by a navigable river terminating at the marina in the middle of the village - The Manor House Hotel, 6 miles (10 km) away in Killadeas, provides golf and water sports facilities as well as a private leisure club and swimming pool
- The Lough Erne Hotel, by the Glendurragh River at the bottom of the main street
- Muckross, an inland lakeside 'beach' which used to be popular with families is now taken over almost exclusively by jet-skiers. It is south of Kesh, about 1 miles (1.6 km) from the village on the shore of Lough Erne
- North Fermanagh Club, a football (during winter) and cricket (during summer) venue on the Crevenish Road
- The scenic route out of Kesh offers views of Lower Lough Erne
Kesh Carnival
A local village carnival takes place every year in the middle of August. It is run by locals, for locals and attracts a small but appreciative crowd during its two weekend events when there is a 'duck derby', historic car rally, tug-of-war competition and various evening functions usually based in or around the Mayfly Inn. It is organised by Kesh Development Association.Notable Kesh connections
- Comedian Frank CarsonFrank CarsonFrank Carson is a Northern Irish comedian and actor, best known on television in series such as The Comedians and Tiswas.-Early life:...
spent time as plasterer in Kesh and is responsible for the work in some of the local authority housing on the Ederney Road. He is warmly remembered. - Although born in OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, former ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
defender Martin KeownMartin KeownMartin Raymond Keown is a former English footballer. Widely regarded as one of the best man-markers of his generation, Keown played for six different football clubs during his career but it was with Arsenal that he will be best remembered. Keown made over three hundred appearances for Arsenal...
spent a lot of his childhood in Kesh as his father is from near the village. He is still often spotted relaxing amongst family and friends in the 'close season' weeks. - Kyle LaffertyKyle LaffertyKyle Lafferty is an Northern Irishassociation footballer who currently plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team...
was born and bred in Kesh, attended the local primary and secondary school in the village and learnt his football at the local club. After a spell with BurnleyBurnley F.C.Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in the English ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, he signed for RangersRangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
who play in the Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. He is a Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football teamThe Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
regular where he partners David HealyDavid Healy (footballer)David Jonathan Healy, MBE is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League champions Rangers...
up front. - Former England cricket captain, Michael VaughanMichael VaughanMichael Paul Vaughan OBE is a retired cricketer who represented Yorkshire and England. A classically elegant right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner, Vaughan was ranked one of the best batsmen in the world following the 2002/3 Ashes, in which he scored 633 runs, including three centuries...
has often been spotted in Kesh, his wife Nichola is from a village nearby and the Baslow-based sportsman is understandably a regular visitor to the south-west of Northern Ireland. - Although unsubstantiated, CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
educated lyricist, musician and singer-songwriter Richard StilgoeRichard StilgoeRichard Henry Simpson Stilgoe OBE is a British songwriter, lyricist and musician. He is noted for clever wordplay as much as for his music....
is alleged to having been spotted regularly in Kesh as his aunt was born and bred in the village. - Frank Ormbsy, poet and former editor of The Honest UlstermanThe Honest UlstermanThe Honest Ulsterman was a long running Northern Ireland literary magazine that was established by James Simmons in 1968. It was then edited for twenty years by Frank Ormsby....
lives in the neighbouring village of IrvinestownIrvinestownIrvinestown is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 1,801 people. The most notable building is the ruined 18th century church.-History:...
. - Fame AcademyFame AcademyFame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
contestant and pop singer Sinéad QuinnSinéad QuinnSinéad Quinn and graduate of the University of Hull was a contestant in the first series of the UK BBC TV series Fame Academy in 2002. She later went on to sign a recording contract, released an album, and had a #2 UK single. She is married to Paul Stewart, drummer with The Feeling...
was born and bred down the road from Kesh, again in Irvinestown.
Transport
Kesh railway station on the Enniskillen and Bundoran RailwayEnniskillen and Bundoran Railway
The Enniskillen and Bundoran Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in north-west Ireland. It linked Bundoran and Ballyshannon on the Atlantic coast of Donegal with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway at in Fermanagh...
was opened on 13 June 1866 and closed on 1 October 1957.
2001 census
Kesh is classified as a small village or hamlet 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 972 people living in Kesh. Of these:- 23.7% were aged under 16 years and 17.6% were aged 60 and over
- 49.2% of the population were male and 50.8% were female
- 15.8% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 83.1% 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 - 2.3% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service