Southern Fermanagh
 Stately Homes |
The late 18th century mansion of Castle Coole lays a short journey southeast of Enniskillen, and provides an insight to how the wealthiest of British colonists lived. Designed by James Wyatt (who was responsible for many of the large houses of the Irish countryside) for the 1st Earl of Belmore, it was constructed over a very lengthy period at massive expense - in fact, the 1 st Earl ruined himself in the process. Completed in 1798, the castle is considered the finest neoclassical mansion in Ireland; a perfect Palladian-fronted building of silver Portland stone, imported from England, with elegant Regency furnishings and a recently restored interior of exquisite plasterwork. Castle Coole resides luxuriously in a beautiful landscaped garden, exemplifying cultivated naturalness, and is part of a large 700-acre estate.
Situated about eight miles southwest of Enniskillen is the magnificent three-storey mansion of Florence Court now, like Castle Coole, in the hands of the National Trust. Commissioned by one of the Earls of Enniskillen, John Cole, in the mid 18 th century, the original building predates Castle Coole by some thirty years. The Court, named after John Cole's wife and later damaged by fire in 1955, is notable for its recently restored Rococo plasterwork and rare Irish furnishings. The dining room is especially lavish with a ceiling that hosts a cloud of cherubs with eagles flying out of a duck-egg blue sky. The Court is enclosed by a walled-garden and provides sublime walks through the 200-year-old oak woods. Here, too, is the original Florence Court yew tree (taxus baccata fastigiata), now found all over the world.
Lying up against the borders of County Clare, and about five miles west of Florence Court, are Fermanagh's renowned series of caves. Some require expert knowledge to navigate their passageways but, fortunately, the most spectacular system of all, the Marble Arch Caves, is accessible to anyone. A tour of the system lasts around an hour and a quarter, beginning with a boat journey along a subterranean river then continuing on foot through brilliantly lit chambers, calcite-walled and dripping with stalactites and fragile mineral veils. This is a very busy commercial enterprise and is best booked well in advance. It is also advisable to wear sturdy walking shoes and warm clothing as it can be wet underfoot and the temperature can drop significantly, other than this it is great fun!