Lisnaskea (Lios na Scéithe, "fort of the shield") is a town historically in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, midway between Enniskillen and the border with the Republic. It's a small place, but with a population of 3000 in 2021, it's the second-largest town in the former county, and it's the main base for exploring Upper Lough Erne. Local government boundaries have changed so Lisnakea is now part of Fermanagh and Omagh District
Understand
[edit]A few miles southwest of the village, waterways twist and turn through lakes and wetlands and islets. The UK border with the Republic of Ireland and the European Union twists and turns in a similar way, creating "pene-enclaves" — strips of land that can only be approached by traversing the other country, unless you flounder across fields and ditches. During "The Troubles" of 1970-1999 that made it bandit country. More importantly for the honest majority on both sides, from 1921 the border blighted travel and transport: a simple freight delivery or trip to town was a logistic challenge. So Lisnaskea is one of many places that depend upon the continuance of the 1998 peace accord.
Get in
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By road from Belfast follow M1 then A4 towards Enniskillen, branching south at Maguiresbridge onto A34.
By public transport travel via Enniskillen, which has buses from Belfast via Dungannon, from Dublin city and airport via Cavan Town heading for Donegal, and from Ballina via Sligo, Manorhamilton and Belcoo.
Ulsterbus 95 runs from Enniskillen via Lisbellaw and Maguiresbridge to Lisnaskea (30 min), continuing southeast to Newtownbutler and across the border to Clones in County Monaghan. There are five M-F and three on Saturday.
1 The Diamond is the main bus stop in Lisnaskea.
The village is by Upper Lough Erne, which is connected to the entire Irish navigable waterway system, reaching all the way to Athlone, Limerick, Carlow, Waterford and Dublin. Expect some push-back if you plan to take a hired boat all that distance.
Get around
[edit]You need wheels to explore this scattered district. A bike would do.
See
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- Town centre is a typical Plantation lay-out, with 18th- and 19th-century low-rise along the one long street. But it's along a main road with no bypass, so trucks are always thundering through to and from the border. The High Cross in Buttermarket at The Diamond has a carved 10th-century shaft, brought here from a vanished monastery, but the cross on top is modern.
- 1 Castle Balfour is the ruin south side of the village, next to the parish graveyard. It was built in 1618 and abandoned after it was set on fire in 1803.
- 2 Hill of Cornashee is thought to be Sciath Ghabhra, the coronation seat of the kings of Fermanagh, atop a burial mound. The hill itself is just a field, but there are nice views north. Approach via Moat Lane and you'd best walk, it's barely wide enough for two bikes to pass let alone cars.
- 3 Aghalurcher Monastery or St Ronan's was founded in the 6th or 7th century and re-built in 1447. However it was abandoned the next year when a murder upon the altar discouraged church attendance. There's an atmospheric 18th century graveyard.
- 4 Crom, Newtownbutler BT92 8AP, ☏ +44 28 6773 8118, [email protected]. Daily Apr-Oct 10AM-6PM, Nov-Mar 10AM-4PM. The neo-Tudor castle of 1840 is a private residence, though used as an events venue. You come for the extensive lakeside grounds, with ancient woodland, wetland and a scattering of islands; the old castle of 1611 is a scenic stump. The visitor centre has an exhibition on the area. There are self-catering lodges and a campsite. Adult £10.50, child £5.30, NT free.
Do
[edit]- 1641 AD: At Lissenskeah they hanged, or otherwise killed, above 100 persons, most of them of the Scottish nation.
- Upper Lough Erne with over 150 islets is the main local attraction, for fishing, boating or just lazing. Boat hire might be best organised from Enniskillen. Its southern pool Drummard Lough is the start of the 63-km (38-mile) Shannon-Erne waterway, which forms the UK-Irish border for several miles before descending through Ballyconnell to Leitrim and the rest of the navigable network.
- Golf: the nearest course is in Eniskillen.
Buy
[edit]- Lidl on Main St is open M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 1-6PM.
Eat
[edit]- Erne Bistro at 156 Main St is open M Tu & Th 9AM-4PM, F Sa 9AM-9PM, Su noon-7PM.
- The Kissin Crust by the Diamond is open Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM.
- Silver Dollar is a fast food place in the shopping centre on Main St, open daily 4-10PM.
Drink
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- Along Lisnaskea main street are Frank's, Blake's and Mac's.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Mullynascarthy Holiday Park, 253 Gola Rd, Lisnaskea BT92 0NZ, ☏ +44 75 4278 2732. Clean well-run site open mid-Mar to Oct. Pitch £35.
- 2 , Newbridge Rd, Lisnaskea BT92 0JZ, ☏ +44 28 6772 2122. This is a residential centre for outdoor activities, mainly used by school and youth groups, but with a campsite and caravan park adjacent. Visitors can buy day-access to the facilities and activities. Tent £20, hook-up £34.
- 3 Knockninny Country House (The Flybridge), 104 Knockninny Rd, Derrylin BT92 9JU, ☏ +44 28 6774 8590. Hotel in 1870s villa, on lakeside with marina, also has self-catering lodges. Closed for refurbishment.
- 4 Belle Isle Castle, Lisbellaw BT94 5HG, ☏ +44 28 6638 7231. 17th-century castle on a private island connected by road, often used for wedding parties. It's no longer a hotel but has self-catering cottages, plus wings of the castle (sleep 10, 16 or 26) for exclusive rental.
- Inishmore Island is a guesthouse half a mile north of Belle Isle.
Connect
[edit]As of May 2026, Lisnaskea and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.
You might also get 4G from Eir, but the other Irish carriers don't reach this far north.
Go next
[edit]- Enniskillen the area's main town has the grand Castle Coole.
- Belturbet south across the lough is in the Republic, with similar landscape for boating and angling.
- Belcoo on the border stands in limestone terrain: explore Burren Park above ground and Marble Arch Caves below.