Fermanagh

Lough Erne runs through Fermanagh in two parts, the upper lough in the south and the lower lough in the north, with Enniskillen on an island in the river between them. Most of the twenty below are on the water or on islands in it, from the round tower on Devenish to the carved figures on White Island and Boa Island. Marble Arch Caves, the boardwalk and Florence Court sit up under Cuilcagh, and the rest are plantation castles and old stones on the farmland between.

Cave · FlorencecourtMarble Arch CavesGuided tours go down into a river cave in the foothills of Cuilcagh, on built paths with the formations lit along the way.

Walk · FlorencecourtCuilcagh Boardwalk TrailA gravel track and then a wooden boardwalk across blanket bog, finishing with a steep flight of steps up to a viewing platform on the edge of the Cuilcagh plateau.

Lake · EnniskillenLough ErneThe Erne widens into two loughs, the upper one south of Enniskillen and the lower one north of it, both scattered with wooded islands.

1. Devenish IslandMonastic site · EnniskillenSt Molaise founded a monastery on this island in the 6th century. The 12th century round tower still stands beside the church ruins, and the only way over is by boat.
2. Enniskillen CastleCastle · EnniskillenThe Maguires built it on the River Erne almost 600 years ago. It holds two museums now, Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum.
3. Castle CooleHouse and gardens · EnniskillenJames Wyatt designed this Portland stone house for the Earls of Belmore in the 1790s, on high ground above Lough Coole just outside Enniskillen.
4. Florence CourtHouse and gardens · FlorencecourtThe 18th century house of the Earls of Enniskillen sits under Cuilcagh, and the Irish yew in its woods is the tree every Irish yew was grown from.
5. White IslandMonastic site · IrvinestownA small church from around 1200 stands on an island in Castle Archdale Bay, with a row of carved stone figures set against its north wall that are older than the church.
6. Boa IslandIsland · KeshTwo carved stone figures stand in the old Caldragh graveyard on Boa Island, and the bigger one has a face and a body on each side.
7. Monea CastleCastle · EnniskillenFinished in 1619 for Malcolm Hamilton, the plantation castle northwest of Enniskillen stands almost to full height, with two round towers at the entrance. It stands on a working farm, and dogs are not allowed.

Where to hear it

Sessions come and go: check with the pub before you travel.

1. Ardhowen TheatreTheatre and arts centre

Music on across Ireland

• DonegalDún na nGall
• LeitrimLiatroim
• CavanAn Cabhán
• MonaghanMuineachán
• TyroneTír Eoghain