An artists impression of work to the complex
A £3m facelift to Enniskillen Castle is officially underway as a renovation project to transform part of the building into a state-of-the-art visitor centre has started.
Visitors will see major changes to a derelict building which was once home to a health care centre but has been abandoned for the last few decades and created an eyesore at the entrance of the historic building.
The original castle keep was built almost 600 years ago by the Gaelic Maguire chieftains and now houses the Fermanagh County Museum and Inniskillings Regimental Museum.
The castle has been attacked and besieged on many occasions through the centuries and occupied by a range of people.
Today, Fermanagh is recognised as having the greatest number of surviving ruins of Plantation Castles, as well as some of the best preserved examples, in the whole of Ireland.
The £3m will be used to transform the old building into an technology hub where visitors will hear of the county’s history and heritage.
Sarah McHugh, the museum’s manager said: “People will be able to see the project in progress throughout the year. The project covers several buildings on site including the main building and the corner of the site which is currently not accessible by the public and never has been.
“Once it’s completed we will be able to display more of our collection. As people go into the museum the health centre, which was built in the 1960s, is there and has been derelict for decades and that’s being knocked down. In its place will be a state of the art visitor centre which will be in keeping with the rest of the museum and the tourism, heritage and genealogy resources. It’s a chance to showcase the rest of the site and will provide interpretations of the site.
“It will provide information not just about the castle but about all of Fermanagh and beyond and for the first time there will be a cafe and improved amenities.”
New technology will also appear throughout the key part of the museum and its varied collection.
Plans are underway to develop a new history hub facility which provides access to the museum’s archives, photographs, library, oral history and the digital film archive.
Historic buildings will be restored to accommodate four new galleries creating additional space to showcase the museum’s collections.
“There will be something for everyone,” she added.
“If you just want to come and find out how to get to Devenish Island we have made this easy for people. and accessible in a wonderful setting. Or others may want to find out about the pilgrimage route in Fermanagh.
“We are refurbishing older buildings and are able to display collections from the early Christian Stone Sculpture collections Islands in Fermanagh including the history of the water ways, Drumclay Crannog and other Crannogs. There will also be a permanent art gallery for the county’s art collection for William Scott who grew up in Enniskillen. People will be able to see the road where he grew up from the art gallery.”
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