Kesh, County Fermanagh

Infobox Irish Place|thumb|left|name = Kesh
irish = An Cheis
scots =
map

pin coords =
north coord = 54.522 | west coord = 7.723
province = Ulster
county = County Fermanagh
NI district = Fermanagh
UK constituency = Fermanagh and South Tyrone
stdcode = 028, +44 28
posttown =
postcode =
population = 972
census yr = 2001
web = www.fermanagh.gov.uk

Kesh (Irish: "An Cheis") is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated on the Kesh River just a mile from Lower Lough Erne. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 972 people. It lies within the Fermanagh District Council area.

Because of its location, close to the shores of Lough Erne, the village has been a popular tourist resort with two caravan parks, a small attractive marina and other related industries both within its boundaries and the surrounding locality. It lies just 5 miles from the border with the Republic of Ireland and 22 miles from the seaside resort of Rossnowlagh in County Donegal, thus adding to its popularity with holiday makers, day-trippers and weekenders.

The main street is the centre of the village and offers visitors and locals alike a comprehensive range of goods and services such as a full dispensing chemist, hardware and builders' supplies, banking and a police station. The main employer in the area is a large flooring and tiling manufacturer, [http://www.trunkflooring.com/ Trunk Flooring] , on the Enniskillen side of the village.

History

The name 'Kesh'

The name Kesh comes from 'cheis', the Irish word for 'a wicker bridge', which refers to the crossing in the middle of the village. The village is unusual in that it is not built round a parish church or chapel. Instead, the two Anglican parishes of Magherculmoney and Tubrid both meet at the river and their respective parish churches are each about 2 miles either side of the village.

Crevenish Castle

The remains of Crevenish Castle lie to the south-east of the village on the Crevenish Road, or 'the back road' as the locals call it. During its time it was home to the infamous Blennerhasset and Maguire families in the 1600 and 1700s.

Local Attractions

* Drummoney Falls. A local beauty spot on the northern side of the village.
* Lough Erne. Kesh is close to the edge of this river and is connected to it by a navigable river terminating at the marina in the middle of the village.
* Crevenish Castle remains.
* Castle Archdale Estate and marina. A huge amenity which includes gardens, walks, water sports and other facilities. The complex also has a large caravan and camping park.
* Drumrush Lodge is a restaurant and caravan park which also has a private marina that offers a full range of water sports.
* Watch football in the winter and cricket in the summer at North Fermanagh Club, Kesh on the Crevenish Road.
* Golf and water sports as well as a private leisure club and swimming pool are available at The Manor House Hotel, six miles away in Killadeas.
* The scenic route out of Kesh offers stunning views of Lower Lough Erne.
* Belleek Pottery, world famous producer of Parian china, is about half an hour away by car.
* Muckross, an inland lakeside 'beach' which used to be a haven for families is now taken over almost exclusively by jet-skiers. It lies on the south side of Kesh, one mile from the village on the edge of Lough Erne.
* Castle Caldwell lies about twenty minutes from Kesh on the Belleek road.

The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Kesh, which includes a list of incidents in Kesh during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

Notable Kesh connections

* Comedian Frank Carson spent time as plasterer in Kesh and is responsible for the work in some of the local authority housing on the Ederney Road. He is warmly remembered.
* Although born in Oxford, former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown spent a lot of his childhood in Kesh as his father is from near the village. He is still often spotted relaxing amongst family and friends in the 'close season' weeks.
* Kyle Lafferty was born and bred in Kesh, attended the local primary and secondary school in the village and learnt his football at the local club. After a spell with Burnley in the English Championship, he has just signed for Rangers who play in the Scottish Premier League. He is a Northern Ireland international where he partners David Healy at the front.
* England cricket captain, Michael Vaughan has often been spotted in Kesh, his wife Nichola is from a village nearby and the Baslow-based sportsman is understandably a regular visitor to the south-west of Northern Ireland.
* Although unsubstantiated, Cambridge educated lyricist, musician and singer-songwriter Richard Stilgoe is alleged to having been spotted regularly in Kesh as his aunt was born and bred in the village.

Transport

*Kesh railway station opened on 13 June 1866 and finally closed on 1 October 1957. [cite web | title=Kesh station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-16]

Kesh Carnival

A local village carnival takes place every year in the middle of August. It is run by locals, for locals and attracts a small but appreciative crowd during its two weekend events when there is a 'duck derby', vintage car rally, tug-of-war competition and various evening functions usually based in or around the Mayfly Inn. It is organised by Kesh Development Association.

2001 Census

Kesh is classified as a small village or hamlet by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (ie with population between 500 and 1,000). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 972 people living in Kesh. Of these:
*23.7% were aged under 16 years and 17.6% were aged 60 and over
*49.2% of the population were male and 50.8% were female15.8% were from a Catholic background and 83.1% were from a Protestant background
*2.3% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

For more details see: [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]

References

* [http://www.enniskillen.com/kesh.html Enniskillen.com]
* [http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=5&to=116&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland]

See also

*List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland

External links

* [http://www.themayflyinn.co.uk/ The Mayfly Inn]
* [http://www.manor-house-hotel.com/ The Manor House Hotel]
* [http://www.drumrushlodge.co.uk/ Drumrush Lodge]
* [http://www.caravanandcampingireland.com/LoanedenCaravanParkTheFamilyChoice.htm/ Loaneden Caravan Park]
* [http://www.castlearchdale.com/ Castle Archdale]