County Fermanagh is known for the beauty of its lakes and rivers. One third of Fermanagh is water; with the great Lough Erne meandering across the County. It is a paradise for birds, wild flowers and fishermen, the magnificent Erne Waterway has unrestricted cruising and boating around some 150 islands scattered across the landscape. Although covering a land area of 647 square miles, Fermanagh only has a population of just over 55,000; making it one of Ireland's least inhabited counties.

Derived from the Irish 'Fear Manach', Fermanagh is rich in an ancient heritage with many superb artefacts still standing. Many of the islands in the Erne Waterway were developed as monastic settlements. The seclusion and protection of the lakelands left these early ecclesiastical centres untouched for many years. A perfect 12th century round tower on Devenish Island remains intact along with a small church and a ruined Augustinian abbey. Some of the most striking pagan carvings can be found on White Island, while the two-faced Celtic idol stands proud on Boa Island.

Outdoor activities in County Fermanagh are second to none. The angling is legendary, with regular competitions, abundant coarse angling and excellent salmon and trout fishing. The Erne is now linked by canal to the River Shannon, to create a wonderful 500 mile leisure cruising waterway. Fermanagh has top class golf clubs and courses across the county, picturesque cycling routes and horse riding. The Marble Arch Caves provide an opportunity to explore a fascinating underworld of waterfalls and lofty chambers.

County Fermanagh has a colourful calendar of cultural events of theatre, arts, music and dance. Dating back to 1857 is the revered Belleek Pottery, a showcase of fine porcelain and one of Fermanagh's key visitor attractions.

Towns in County Fermanagh

Enniskillen is the largest town in County Fermanagh. Other main towns are Irvinestown, Lisnaskea and Roslea. Please see our town guides for further information.

Business Information

County Fermanagh has one central administrative body in Enniskillen. The Fermanagh District Council promotes both tourism and business in the County. Two thirds of Fermanagh is rural. Agriculture and tourism are the principal sectors. With 50 miles of cruising lakes, County Fermanagh is a premier tourist destination for fishing and boating enthusiasts alike. St. Angelo Airport, near Enniskillen, is ideally located to bring tourism right into the heart of the lakelands. Continental flights bring visitors directly to Fermanagh to enjoy this unspoiled pocket of Ireland. Engineering, cement works and timber milling are other significant industries in the County. BT relocated their central London enquiry centre to Enniskillen, creating 240 new jobs. The US packaging firm, Plastofilm, has its European headquarters in County Fermanagh.

Fermanagh District Council	Tel: (44) 01365 325050
Fermanagh Enterprise Limited	Tel: (44) 01365 327348
South West Fermanagh Development	Tel: (44) 013657 48893
Fermanagh Business Initiative	Tel: (44) 01365 328181

Fermanagh has a comprehensive network of roads across the County and around the waterways. Bus Eireann and Ulsterbus both operate regular services in Fermanagh, making this rural haven very accessible from all surrounding counties. The local Enniskillen Airport has flights to and from Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Jersey, with plans to extend their flight schedule to other parts of Europe and the UK. Belfast International Airport provides long distance flights. The nearest ferry port to Fermanagh is Belfast.

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