Erne Heritage Tours.

08/02/2016

Irelands perfect outline by showing only GAA pitches. Awe inspiring.

23/12/2015

Fermanagh writer, local historian and tour guide, JOHN CUNNINGHAM, signing a selection of over ten titles he has either written or contributed to. All available from Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry) in The Yellow Yard. 21 Dec 2015.

23/12/2015

Author-signed books, new and second-hand, fiction and non-fiction, at Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry).

12/10/2015

New post (Gazing into Eternity 1916) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

The latest book by John B. Cunningham. It deals with that year as reported in National and local newspapers.

11/08/2015

New post (The Man who made Belleek. John C. Bloomfield) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

 

John Caldwell Bloomfield was born on the 5th of February 1823, a son of Major John Colpoys Bloomfield of Redwood, County Tipperary who had married Francis Arabella Caldwell, an heiress to Castle Caldwell, Belleek on the 11th of June, 1817. When he grew up and inherited the Castle Caldwell estate after a spell in the army where he had been stationed in China, he was very keen, perhaps recklessly keen, to improve his estate and the condition of those who lived on it. He operated the age old eel fishery at Drumanillar, a steamer on Lough Erne, ‘The Countess of Milan’ which sailed between Enniskillen and Belleek from 1855 to 1859 plus various cottage industries, mines, factories, a cement works, a brick works, a boot and shoe factory and ultimately his creation, Belleek Pottery. Almost all these ventures were financial failures and put the entire estate into an economic declin ...

24/07/2015

New post (LOOK OUT HE’S BEHIND YOU) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

As I reach into my 71st year I recall lots of stories of emigration. I saw the pain of those leaving and the pain etched on the faces of those who stayed behind. Somebody had to stay to look after the elderly and safeguard the homebase in case things don’t work out. ‘When I make enough money I’ll be back’ but the reality was they never or hardly ever came back. The first two verses of the song ‘Goodbye Johnny Dear,’ tells the start of the emigrants story. It was written by Johnny Patterson (1840–1889) who was an Irish singer, song writer and circus entertainer who also wrote the song The Garden Where the Praties Grow. Such was his fame that he was offered a contract in America in 1876 where in the United States he became one of most famous and highest paid entertainers at the time. He composed many more songs including The Hat my Father Wore, Bridget Donoghue, Shake Hands with your U ...

24/07/2015

24/07/2015

New post (Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves: A Collection of Short Stories) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves is a collection of half a dozen short stories. Tales of outsiders who discover they belong, a humorous slice of life yarn, heartwarming love stories and a tale of taming fear. The shadows are on the wall, in the heart and clouding a woman. Contact Dianne Trimble, Phone 02889531733 Email [email protected]

30/06/2015

New post (Kesh children 1917) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

April 26th 1917. THE SHOCKING DEPRAVITY OF KESH CHILDREN WHO WERE DRUNK AND ALSO COMMITTED BURGLARIES. A series of charges were heard at Kesh Petty Sessions in which Herbert Irvine, aged nine and Thomas Thomson aged eight were charged with breaking and entering three houses and with thefts therefrom of bottles, revolvers, fishing tackle and bottles of whisky. It appeared from the evidence that the two boys entered the closed up licensed premises lately occupied in Kesh by Mr. Walmsley and took away a quantity of bottles and sold them. Later they entered the store of Mr. Eves and took from it two bottles of whisky which they shared with other young lads and got drunk with the results that in the case of Irvine said Head Constable McLean his mother had to carry him up to bed he was so drunk. On a later date the boys entered the house of John Graham, Letterkeen and stole two revo ...

22/06/2015

New post (1917) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

January 18th 1917. TUBERCULOSIS SCHEME IN COUNTY FERMANAGH. ROSSCLARE CRITICISED AND IRVINESTOWN PIG HEADED SAYS LORD BELMORE. In a report it was stated that complaints had been received as to the feeding of the patients at Rossclare A subcommittee having gone there to investigate the matter on the spot found no ground for the complaint nor did any patient make a complaint verbally. It was also reported that the Enniskillen Guardians had given permission to the Tuberculosis Officer to use Derrygonnelly and Blacklion Dispensaries for Tuberculosis Dispensaries but that the Irvinestown Guardians refused the use of Kesh Dispensary for a similar purpose. Mr. Phillips was asked by the Chairman (Mr. J. McHugh why the Irvinestown Guardians refused to give the Kesh Dispensary. He replied – ‘We refuse to give it on the grounds that we will not allow people suffering from an infectious di ...

16/06/2015

New post (THE DEPARTURE OF MR. WILLIAM DICKIE) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

January 11th 1917. Impartial Reporter. THE DEPARTURE OF MR. WILLIAM DICKIE FROM Enniskillen to his new home, I think, in Clones, removed from the town the last member of the religious sect known as Plymouth Brethren. There are few members in our midst of the Society of Friends. There is only one now in Enniskillen. Friends are popularly called Quakers and the derivation of the name is of interest. A great leader in the Friends community was a man called Fox, who, when he spoke suffered from tremors and became so excited that he shook in all parts. His followers thought this was the correct thing and followed his example. Hence the name Quakers. It reminds me of the Alexandra limp. When Queen Alexandra, many years ago, met with an accident to her foot she walked with a limp, and leaders in society during the time of the Queen Mother’s indisposition all limped in imitation of ...

01/06/2015

New post (Smuggling) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

The terms legal and illegal are in essence movable feasts. Things that a great portion of the human race shout about when its suits them and kept quiet when it doesn’t. Laws are easy to make but getting people to respect and obey them is something completely different. Governments often make laws and the net effect of the law is to push people to break that law and the making of illegal drink in the form of poteen, moonshine etc is a good example. In the 1700s the Government choose to have a tax of 6 shillings on a gallon of legally distilled but bad quality whiskey out of a retail price of 9 shillings. Two thirds of the price was tax so small wonder thousands of people made their own. The Government cracked down on this problem which they had created themselves and a system of violence and counter-violence came into being that lasted for centuries. The peasantry were acting i ...

20/05/2015

New post (The Salmon in the Well. ) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

I have long been interested in the idea of trout or salmon in wells as often mentioned in the ancient Celtic tales of Ireland and other cultures. The practicalities of it puzzled me however. How might a fish end up trapped in a well? Might the well have been near a stream and the fish trapped when a flood which covered the well subsided? I could not envisage how or why a fish should be in a well unless under this sort of circumstance. But it seems in the end that this phenomenon had a very practical explanation after all. People put the fish into the well.

Among the many mentions of salmon in springs, wells and fountains and their attendant sacred hazel trees, there is the tale of Cormac MacArt, the son of the High King of Ireland and the Fountain of Knowledge. He had to undertake an arduous journey through the Land of Promise until he reached the royal dun or fort. Inside was a ...

18/05/2015

New post (From Mountain to Lough - The Collection) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Matt Duggan
The Poetry of Derrylin post man Matt Duggan (1914 – 1979) appeared in various journals and newspapers during his lifetime and a small section was published in Belfast in a booklet called From Mountain to Lough. Although it is almost 30 years since his death, some of Matt Duggan’s best poems have remained in circulation and are still appreciated and enjoyed in south Fermanagh where he too is fondly remembered. His notebooks and published works have been carefully preserved by his family and now his son Gerry has gathered all the poems together for publication in this present volume. As well as his poetry, Matt Duggan has also left a substantial number of short stories and it is hoped that these also will be republished also at some future date.
Purchase by contacting the email link below – £10 plus £4 P&P
Contact

15/05/2015

New post (The Best Days of your Life? Schools of the Belleek area.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

The Best Days of your Life? Schools of the Belleek area including photographs and roll books where found. Schools, teachers and pupils with personal reminiscences including the following schools, Mulleek, Derryhallow, Tullyvogey, Belleek No.1, Commons and No. 2. Corry, Drumbad, Cornahilta, Rosscor, Fassagh, Rockfield, Letter and Rossharbour. Size 222 A4 pages, 111 school and individual photographs and approximately 8,500 names on roll books and photographs. Including an introduction to modern Irish education and early education in the area. Sold out. Only available on CD at £12 plus £3 P&P

14/05/2015

New post (More Stories from Fermanagh) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

‘More Stories from Fermanagh by the people in their own words’ is composed of ten interviews with local people who tell their own stories, many starting long ago. It will bring back memories to any who have had contact with Fermanagh. It is an A5 104 page book and costs £5 plus £2 P&P. Contact Vicky Herbert at home at 02867721730 and/or [email protected]

14/05/2015

New post (Conversations with Nature) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

‘Conversations with Nature’ is a compilation of personal reflections and insights into our natural world, that of Tyrone, Donegal and Fermanagh in particular and especially the local flora and fauna around us. The author, Stephen Colton also includes his own pencil sketches to enliven his informative stories.
Contact Stephen at [email protected],

04/05/2015

New post (Fermanagh In Sight: The Fermanagh Highlands) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

This area of Fermanagh stretches west and south from Enniskillen and is bounded by the counties of Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal and on the north by the beautiful expanse of Lower Lough Erne and its numerous islands. Its mountainous central area is known as the Fermanagh Highlands and in Medieval Fermanagh, the ruling Maguires kept seven great herds of cattle in this region.

29/04/2015

New post (Fermanagh In Sight: Enniskillen - The Island Town) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Preface – Enniskillen – The Island Town
Enniskillen is the county town of Fermanagh; a county created in the English fashion from the area ruled by the Irish clan, the Maguires. In landscape its origin takes us back to the last Ice Age about 12,000 years ago and as the ice melted and glaciers slid towards the ocean they carved out two large lakes in County Fermanagh now known as Upper and Lower Lough Erne. The glaciers left a landscape of little hills behind them known as drumlins – the look like little half egg shapes – and there are thousands of these all over Fermanagh; indeed Enniskillen is built on one of these drumlins The River Erne has a cathment area of about a million acres and flows from near Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan to the Atlantic Ocean at Ballyshannon, County Donegal, a distance of about 70 miles. It is the third largest river system in Ireland. In the past the Er ...

28/04/2015

New post (Fermanagh In Sight Book 4 - East Fermanagh) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Book four of the Fermanagh In Sight series of photographic guides brings to a close six years of writing and photography in Fermanagh by Gail McGowan (photographer) and John Cunningham (writer). This is the final book in the Fermanagh In Sight series and in succession to northwest Fermanagh, southwest Fermanagh and Enniskillen and its surrounding, east Fermanagh is the focus of this book detailing the history, scenery and heritage of the archipelago of Upper Lough Erne and its charming towns and villages large and small such as Tempo, Newtownbutler, Lisnaskea, Brookeborough, Roslea, Derrylin, Kinawley, Lisbellaw, Belnaleck, Magheraveely and Florencecourt with a little dip into the historic towns of Clones and Swanlinbar just outside the county boundary. Rising above the southeast is the impressive shape of Cuilcagh Mountain where water from the southern slope flows underground until ...

24/04/2015

New post (May 1915) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Fermanagh Herald May 1st. 1915. THE DRINK TRAFFIC AND LISNASKEA GUARDIANS. CLOSING OF THE PUBLIC HOUSES. A copy of a resolution passed by the Ballymena Board of Guardians “viewing with great apprehension the grave position in which the nation was placed,” “and that the drink traffic was in every direction working havoc and asking the legislature to carry through a measure for the complete suppression of the traffic during the war,” was read. The chairman objected to the adoption of the report as it was only a move to kill one of the few industries in Ireland. Mr. Kirkpatrick said it was awful the amount of money people who were receiving the bounty, were spending on drink. Mr. Kirkpatrick said it would do no harm to adopt the resolution and the Chairman disagreed. The Chairman said it would do a lot of harm to other people. The government would do nothing to the “weak beer” i ...

21/04/2015

New post (The legendary voyage of Maeldun.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Muldoon of “The Kingdom of Lurg,” County Fermanagh – as well known in a different way as St. Columbanus in Europe.

Muldoon is an Irish family name and to be exact a notable Fermanagh name. It is represented throughout the world where descendants of emigrants of people bearing that name have settled; e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries. It is an Anglicization of the Irish Ó Maoldúin, “descended from Maoldúin,” which in turn was a legendary first name. This name means king or chieftain of the fort. According to the Annals of Loch Cé, they were said to be of royal birth and styled themselves as the Kings of Lurg, in Co. Fermanagh. The Barony of Lurg is in north-west Fermanagh around Ederney and Lack and with their headquarters near Lack in the townland of Seemuldoon meaning the seat of the Muldoons. The family logo is Pro Fide Et Patria, Latin fo ...

09/04/2015

New post (Devenish Island Monastery – 1,500 years of Fermanagh History.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

John Cunningham and his fellow Erne Heritage Tour Guides launched the first of a series of guides to the great tourist, heritage and historical sites of County Fermanagh in Enniskillen Library on Monday 7th of July. The book entitled Devenish Island Monastery – 1,500 years of Fermanagh History details the monastic orders who lived there the Célí Dé and the Augustinian monks and their monastic life, early Fermanagh society, ecclesiastical dynasties in Fermanagh, Devenish as one of our first “towns” and the islands buildings including its iconic round tower. The book has over 30 full colour images with one notable image of the “wishing sarcophagus” in action where a lady is turning around in it so that her wish is granted. The book is available locally at £5 in Fermanagh Museum and the Tourist Information Office as well as local shops and online in our bookstore htt ...

08/04/2015

New post (THAT LITTLE CHAP OF MINE. For all parents and grandparents.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Variations and reduced versions of this poem are to be found on the Internet usually related to a temperance theme and all are described as anonymous. This seems to be the original from which the rest are drawn and it does have a recognised source.
Impartial Reporter. April 1 1915.

THAT LITTLE CHAP OF MINE.
I know I’m just an ordinary, easy going cuss,
‘Bout the common run of men, no better an’ no wuss.
I can’t lay claim to anything as far as looks may ago,
An’ when it comes to learning, why, I don’t stand any show.
But there must be something more in me than other folks can see,
‘Cause I’ve got a little chap at home that thinks a heap of me.

I’ve had my ups and downs in life as most folks have, I guess,
An,’ taken all in all, I couldn’t brag of much success,
But it braces up a feller and it tickles him to know
There’s someone that takes stock in him, no matter how things ...

08/04/2015

New post (1915) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Impartial Reporter. June 10 1915. A BREEZY LETTER. SIDELIGHTS ON THE CAMPAIGN. The following breezy letter from the Dardanelles has been received by a gentleman in Dublin whose brother is a naval officer.
The Army is safely landed and are steadily battering its way to Constantinople. By Jove if you had seen those Australians shining up the hills, (cliffs in places) with the bayonet alone, and ripping up the Turks, (those who stayed), it would have done your heart good. The enemy are most stubborn and are well led. We have a few prisoners on board, and the officers among them are well dressed and hard looking.
The men are mostly scaly-wags and very badly fitted out. Their foot gear is poor being, either rope-soled boots or Turkish slippers. Their rifles are of the very latest German pattern, except in the case of Greeks and Arabs pressed in to fight and they have only old Lee E ...

07/04/2015

New post (Paddy White Waistcoat Cunningham) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Buried Far From Home – Paddy “The Kid” Cunningham, Donaghmoyne, Co., Monaghan and Hume Caldwell of Castle Caldwell, Belleek.

Patrick Cunningham was born in the parish of Donaghmoyne, Co., Monaghan and he was a son of my granduncle. Paddy Cunningham died unmarried at the age of 29 in the 1st World War. He had two nicknames, “The Kid” and “Paddy White Waistcoat” and he was noted for his sense of dress. He emigrated to New Zealand and joined the army there soon after the outbreak of war. He was in the 3rd Battalion of the Auckland Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for the term of the duration of the War. When he joined, his occupation is given as bacon curer and his address at 7, Whitelough Ave., Christchurch, New Zealand. He came to Europe on H.M.T. Willochra and disembarked at Plymouth on the 29th of December 1916. He was granted leave back in Ireland for a week before ...

07/04/2015

New post (Some 1916. Tanks, escaped lunatics, colossal cattle prices and the opening of the Enniskillen Royal school.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

August 31st 1916. BALLYCONNELL a special court was held in in the R.I.C barracks before Mr. J. A. Bennison, J.P. when the police had in custody a servant boy named James McKiernan on a charge of being an absentee under the Military Service Act. It appears the boy had been working in Glasgow and had signed the registration papers and had failed to return. After formal evidence he was conveyed to Armagh jail pending the arrival of a military es**rt from Scotland.
In the Ballyconnell fair on Monday Mr. F. J. Clancy, Ballyconnell, sold to Mr. Charlie Moan, Lisnaskea, a six year old springing cow for the fabulous prize of £40. This is the highest price ever known to be paid in Ballyconnell for a beast of its class. Other classes of cattle sold from £33 to £35, young calves from £4 to £6 10 and young pigs from five to £6 two and sixpence per pair.

August 31st 1916. IRISH HARVESTE ...

02/04/2015

New post (More Impartial Reporter 1915.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Impartial Reporter. June 10 1915. A BREEZY LETTER. SIDELIGHTS ON THE CAMPAIGN. The following breezy letter from the Dardanelles has been received by a gentleman in Dublin whose brother is a naval officer.
The Army is safely landed and are steadily battering its way to Constantinople. By Jove if you had seen those Australians shining up the hills, (cliffs in places) with the bayonet alone, and ripping up the Turks, (those who stayed), it would have done your heart good. The enemy are most stubborn and are well led. We have a few prisoners on board, and the officers among them are well dressed and hard looking.
The men are mostly scaly-wags and very badly fitted out. Their foot gear is poor being, either rope-soled boots or Turkish slippers. Their rifles are of the very latest German pattern, except in the case of Greeks and Arabs pressed in to fight and they have only old Lee E ...

02/04/2015

New post (Impartial Reporter 1915.) has been published on Erne Heritage Tours

Impartial Reporter. June 17 1915. INNISKILLINGS REFUSE QUARTER.
GERMANS AND THE BAYONET. Private John Milligan, Strabane who belongs to the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskillings writing to a friend from a hospital in Wales confirms the truth of the report that the Germans do not appreciate bayonet charges. In the engagement in which he was wounded the Inniskillings took some trenches at the point of the bayonet, and so terrific was the slaughter the Germans on their knees appealed for mercy, and begged to be taken prisoner, but the gallant Inniskillings, shouting “Revenge for the Lusitania,” refused to give any quarter, and drove home their charge with decisive effect. Private Milligan had a narrow escape, and his clothes and straps were torn into ribbons. He has been at the front since November last and has seen a great deal of fighting.

Impartial Reporter. June 17 1915. THE 1 ...