4. Castle Keep

Enniskillen Castle Keep was originally built as a Tower House by the Gaelic chiefs of Fermanagh, the Maguires, almost 600 years ago. The Castle became the main seat of the Maguire family. It stands proudly at the centre of the Castle Barracks Complex. To learn more about the history of the Maguires, visit The Maguire Story

Tower houses were fortified medieval buildings that provided defence against attack as well as a being grand residences. Situated alongside the River Erne, the strategic location of the Castle has been important throughout its history.

The batter along the base of the Keep provides a tangible link to its Maguire past. The upper part of the building dates largely to the Plantation period when William Cole rebuilt much of the upper sections of the Keep.

The present large windows reflect a move to more peaceful times and were added in the late 18th century. The earlier Castle would have had much smaller windows. The ground floor would have used for storage of weaponry and food. Two vaulted rooms remain – the oldest rooms in Enniskillen.

Today, the Castle Keep houses the Inniskillings Museum on the top two floors and Fermanagh County Museum’s exhibition on the Medieval Maguires on the ground floor.