Maguiresbridge
Encyclopedia
Maguiresbridge is a small village
in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. The village is named after the bridge over the Colebrooke River
, first built by the local Maguire family
about 1760. The village is 8 miles from Enniskillen
and 3 miles from Lisnaskea
.
village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 774 people living in Maguiresbridge.
Of these:
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
. At that time, Maguiresbridge and Clones
were two of the major junctions from Derry
, Omagh
, and Belfast
into north Leinster
, in particular, the major market towns of Athlone, Cavan
, and Mullingar
via the Inney junction. This back-bone rail infrastructure was administered by the Midland Great Western Railway
which also linked to other major towns: namely, Sligo
, Tullamore
, via Clara
, other destinations such as Dublin, Limerick
, and other market towns of the south coast.
Maguiresbridge railway station on the Great Northern Railway
opened on 1 March 1859 and was shut on 1 October 1957. The station serving as the western terminus of the narrow gauge Clogher Valley Railway
opened on 2 May 1887 and was shut on 1 January 1942.
Derek Breen (aged 29) was shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
in the Talk of the Town Bar (Now the Coach Inn). During the same incident John McCabe (aged 25) who was working as a barman in the Talk of The Town bar was caught up in the gun fire died on scene.
. New shops were also built during this time.
Maguiresbridge does not cater for secondary education. Eligible residents would travel to Lisnaskea
and Enniskillen
to receive secondary education.
club. Saint Mary's GFC is a Gaelic football club with its grounds on the Dromgoon Road, whilst the soccer club play's its games in Lisnaskea.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
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...
. The village is named after the bridge over the Colebrooke River
Colebrooke River
The Colebrooke River is a river in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Its source is in the Sliabh Beagh mountains where its known as the Many Burns....
, first built by the local Maguire family
Hugh Maguire
Aodh Mag Uidhir, anglicised as Hugh Maguire was the Lord of Fermanagh in Ireland during the reign of Elizabeth I and leader of the ancient Maguire clan; he died fighting crown authority during the Nine Years War.-Early career:...
about 1760. The village is 8 miles from 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...
and 3 miles from Lisnaskea
Lisnaskea
Lisnaskea is the second-biggest settlement in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 2,739 people in the 2001 Census. The town is built around the long main street, which bends at almost 90 degrees along its course.- History :...
.
Demographics
Maguiresbridge is classified as a smallSmall
Small may refer to:People:* Albion Woodbury Small , founded the first Department of Sociology in the United States at the University of Chicago* Ambrose Small , Canadian theatre magnate...
village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 774 people living in Maguiresbridge.
Of these:
- 25.5% were aged under 16 years and 15.6% were aged 60 and over
- 50.4% of the population were male and 49.6% were female
- 40.4% were from a Catholic background and 57.6% were from a Protestant background
- 6.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Old railway
At the beginning of the 20th century, Maguiresbridge was served by four railways which stretched throughout UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. At that time, Maguiresbridge and Clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
were two of the major junctions from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, 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 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...
into north Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
, in particular, the major market towns of Athlone, Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
, and Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
via the Inney junction. This back-bone rail infrastructure was administered by the Midland Great Western Railway
Midland Great Western Railway
The Midland Great Western Railway was the third largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railway in 1924. It served part of Leinster, County Cavan in Ulster and much of Connaught...
which also linked to other major towns: namely, Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
, via Clara
Clara
Clara is a town on the River Brosna in County Offaly and is the 10th largest town in the midlands of Ireland. The town has a population of 3001 , however a number of well populated housing estates lie outside the town boundary making the actual population higher...
, other destinations such as Dublin, Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, and other market towns of the south coast.
Maguiresbridge railway station on the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
opened on 1 March 1859 and was shut on 1 October 1957. The station serving as the western terminus of the narrow gauge Clogher Valley Railway
Clogher Valley Railway
The Clogher Valley Railway was a 37 mile long narrow gauge railway in County Tyrone and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It opened in May 1887 and closed on 1 January 1942 .-Route:...
opened on 2 May 1887 and was shut on 1 January 1942.
The Troubles
The most notable incident occurred on 11 February 1986 when off duty member of the Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
Derek Breen (aged 29) was shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
in the Talk of the Town Bar (Now the Coach Inn). During the same incident John McCabe (aged 25) who was working as a barman in the Talk of The Town bar was caught up in the gun fire died on scene.
21st century
Maguiresbridge grew considerably during the 2010s, with the building of five new housing developments inholding 350 houses. The population is now estimated to be between 1000 and 1200 as opposed to the 770 total in the 2001 CensusUnited 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....
. New shops were also built during this time.
Education
Primary Education- St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary
- Maguiresbridge Controlled Primary
Maguiresbridge does not cater for secondary education. Eligible residents would travel to Lisnaskea
Lisnaskea
Lisnaskea is the second-biggest settlement in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 2,739 people in the 2001 Census. The town is built around the long main street, which bends at almost 90 degrees along its course.- History :...
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...
to receive secondary education.
Churches
- Roman Catholic (Saint Mary's Church)
- Church of Ireland (Christchurch)
- Methodist Church
- Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Sport
Maguiresbridge is home to a both a soccer and Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club. Saint Mary's GFC is a Gaelic football club with its grounds on the Dromgoon Road, whilst the soccer club play's its games in Lisnaskea.