It fell into a state of dilapidation about 1863, though in 1867 it was used as a temporary barracks for the extra police required in the town during the Fenian rising.
In 1898 it was sold to Mr. P. J. Roche of New Ross.
Flood, “History of Enniscorthy.” D. Murphy, “Cromwell in Ireland.” Brewer, “Beauties of Ireland.” Proceedings of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Parliamentary Gazetteer. State Papers. Calendar of Patent and Close Rolls, Ireland. Fiants of Elizabeth.
The chief part of the town of Enniskillen is situated on an island in Lough Erne, seventy-five miles west-by-south of Belfast, in the County Fermanagh.
The name is supposed to be derived from a small islet near to the eastern bridge where the heroic wife of a great chief is buried, and which was called Enis-Cethlenn or “the Island of Cethlenn.”
The castle stands at the western side of the town, where it commanded the lake.
It is now incorporated with the Castle Barrack, but the original quadrangular keep (a storey lower than in former times) is still to be seen, while the curtain wall and towers, which were erected in 1611, and figure in the arms of the town, are in a good state of preservation. The ditch which once surrounded it has now been filled up. The castle was the chief fortress of the Maguires, lords of Fermanagh. In 1439 it was surrendered to Donall Ballach Maguire, and three years later Thomas Oge Maguire gave it to Philip Maguire.
In 1593 Maguire had the houses round the castle burnt for fear of attack. Nevertheless, early the following year, during his absence, Captain Dowdall laid siege to the fortress.
On the ninth day he attacked the castle “by boats, by engines, by sap, by scaling.” He placed 100 men in a great boat covered with hurdles and hide, which, with
Connor O’Cassidy as guide, drew up close to the wall of the barbican.
Here a fierce onslaught was made, and the garrison retreated to the keep. This, Captain Dowdall threatened to blow up unless they surrendered, which they accordingly did.
The steersman of the boat gives the number as thirty-six fighting men, and nearly the same of women and children; whereas Captain Dowdall states he put a hundred and fifty to death, which is most likely an exaggeration.