Newtownbutler
Encyclopedia
Newtownbutler or Newtown Butler is a small village
in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. It is in the southeast corner of the County, close to the border with County Monaghan
and the town of Clones
. It is surrounded by small lakes and bogland and close to Lough Erne
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 943 people.
village in the early 18th century. It was built within the townland
of Aghagay. Originally known as Newtown, it was renamed Newtownbutler when Theophilus Butler was created Baron of the area in 1715.
The local terrain was the undoing of some of the Jacobite
forces in 1689 in the Battle of Newtownbutler
. A Williamite
force of less than 1000 Enniskillen
troops captured and killed 3000 of James II’s
troops here after they had got lost in the anonymous and unmarked bog.
, Newtownbutler, owned by the National Trust
, covers over 1900 acres (8 km²) of woods, parkland and wetland and is one of Ireland's most important nature conservation areas with the largest surviving area of oak
woodland in Northern Ireland. There are also many attractive buildings on the estate, including Crom Old Castle and the romantic folly, Gad Island Tower. The wealth of wildlife at Crom is highlighted by the presence of two rare butterflies - the purple hair-streak and the wood white, as well as the pine marten and the largest herony in Ireland. The 19th century castle is private and not open to the public.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is in the southeast corner of the County, close to the border with County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
and the town of Clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
. It is surrounded by small lakes and bogland and close to Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
. In the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 943 people.
History
Newtownbutler began to be built as a PlantationPlantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
village in the early 18th century. It was built within the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Aghagay. Originally known as Newtown, it was renamed Newtownbutler when Theophilus Butler was created Baron of the area in 1715.
The local terrain was the undoing of some of the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
forces in 1689 in the Battle of Newtownbutler
Battle of Newtownbutler
The Battle of Newtownbutler took place near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1689 and was part of the Williamite War in Ireland between the forces of William and Mary and those of King James II.-The war in western Ulster:...
. A Williamite
Williamite
Williamite refers to the followers of King William III of England who deposed King James II in the Glorious Revolution. William, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, replaced James with the support of English Whigs....
force of less than 1000 Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
troops captured and killed 3000 of James II’s
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
troops here after they had got lost in the anonymous and unmarked bog.
The Troubles
There were thirteen fatalities in and around Newtownbutler during The Troubles.Places of interest
Crom EstateCrom Estate
The Crom Estate is a nature reserve located in the south of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, along the shores of Upper Lough Erne. It is one of three estates owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and Castle Coole mansions. The estate...
, Newtownbutler, owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, covers over 1900 acres (8 km²) of woods, parkland and wetland and is one of Ireland's most important nature conservation areas with the largest surviving area of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
woodland in Northern Ireland. There are also many attractive buildings on the estate, including Crom Old Castle and the romantic folly, Gad Island Tower. The wealth of wildlife at Crom is highlighted by the presence of two rare butterflies - the purple hair-streak and the wood white, as well as the pine marten and the largest herony in Ireland. The 19th century castle is private and not open to the public.
People
- Charles IrwinCharles IrwinCharles Irwin VC was born in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:Irwin was approximately 33 years old, and a...
(1824-April 8, 1873) was born in Manorhamilton, County LeitrimCounty LeitrimCounty Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
and was an IrishIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
recipient of the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. On 16 November 1857 at LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Private Irwin showed conspicuous bravery at the assault on the Secundra Bagh when, although severely wounded through the right shoulder, he was one of the first to enter the building under heavy fire. He died on 29 March 1873 at Newtownbutler and is buried in Saint Mark's Churchyard, MagheraveelyMagheraveelyMagheraveely is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of people 254. It is within the Fermanagh District Council area.- People :...
, County Fermanagh.
Transport
Newtownbutler railway station opened on 26 June 1858 and finally closed on 1 October 1957.2001 Census
Newtownbutler is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 943 people living in Newtownbutler. Of these:- 27.9% were aged under 16 years and 12.9% were aged 60 and over
- 47.8% of the population were male and 52.2% were female
- 90.8% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 8.9% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 10.7% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service