Enniskillen (/ˌɛnɪsˈkɪlən/ EN-iss-KIL-ən, from Irish: Inis Ceithleann[2] [ˈɪnʲɪʃ ˈcɛlʲən̪ˠ], 'Ceithlenn's island') is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

It has been anglicised many ways over the centuries – Iniskellen, Iniskellin, Iniskillin, Iniskillen, Inishkellen, Inishkellin, Inishkillin, Inishkillen and so on.

[2] The town's oldest building is Enniskillen Castle, built by Hugh (Maguire) the Hospitable who died in 1428.

[12] The first watergate was built around 1580 by Cú Chonnacht Maguire, though subsequent lowering of the level of the lough has left it without water.

The strategic position of the castle made its capture important for the English in 1593, to support their plans for the control of Ulster.

Maguire then laid siege to it, and defeated a relieving force at the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits at Drumane Bridge on the Arney River.

This was part of a wider campaign to bring the province of Ulster under English control; the final capture of Enniskillen Castle in 1607 was followed by the Plantation of Ulster, during which the lands of the native Irish were seized and handed over to planters loyal to the English Crown.

The Maguires were supplanted by William Cole, originally from Devon, who was appointed by James I to build an English settlement there in 1612.

Captain Cole was installed as Constable and strengthened the castle wall and built a "fair house" on the old foundation as the centre point of the county town.

During the conflict which resulted from the ousting of King James II by his Protestant rival, William III, Enniskillen and Derry were the focus of Williamite resistance in Ireland, including the nearby Battle of Newtownbutler.

As a direct result of this conflict, Enniskillen developed not only as a market town but also as a garrison, which became home to two regiments.

Enniskillen was the site of several events during The Troubles, the most notable being the Remembrance Day bombing in which 11 people were killed.

Enniskillen Rangers have several notable former players including Sandy Fulton and Jim Cleary.

Their most notable former player is Michael McGovern who won 32 senior caps for Northern Ireland and as of January 2024 was on loan at Livingston F.C.

Enniskillen Rugby Football Club was founded in 1925 and plays its home games at Mullaghmeen.

Enniskillen XV won the Ulster Towns Cup in the 2018/19 season, defeating Ballyclare 19–0.

[35] The rugby club was formed on 28 August 1925, when 37 attended a meeting in Enniskillen Town Hall.

The club has had success in both Gaelic football and hurling winning in both county and provincial competitions.

However, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council still have plans to send representatives to Brackwede for the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the twinning.

The nearest official Met Office weather station for which online records are available is at Lough Navar Forest,[93] about 8+1⁄2 mi (14 km) northwest of Enniskillen.

Data has also more recently been collected from Enniskillen/St Angelo Airport, under 4 mi (6 km) north of the town centre, which should in time give a more accurate representation of the climate of the Enniskillen area.