Hospitality & Heritage Fit for a King (or a Chieftain!)
at 3rd Annual Maguire History Weekend
This year’s annual history weekend promises to be a treat of Medieval food and fascinating heritage suitable for anyone seeking to trace the story of the Maguire Chieftains of Fermanagh. It takes place from Friday 13 May until Sunday 15 May at Enniskillen Castle Museums.
The weekend begins with a tour of Devenish Island led by Catherine Scott of Fermanagh County Museum at 2pm – 4.30pm on Friday 13 May. The monastery on Devenish Island was first founded by St. Molaise in the 6th century. It became a place of great religious and spiritual importance for the next 1000 years as well as a burial place for a branch of the Maguire family. With its impressive Round Tower, situated on an island in Lough Erne, Devenish is one of the most beautiful historic sites in Fermanagh.
Later on Friday, visitors can enjoy a Hospitable Evening of Medieval Food between 7.30 and 9.00pm. Enniskillen Castle was built over 600 years ago by Hugh ‘The Hospitable’ Maguire. Continuing the tradition of hospitality, this evening sees a demonstration of banqueting fare by Joe Kelly of The Kitchen Academy, Liz Moore of Belle Isle School of Cookery and Teresa O’Hare of Orchard Acre Farm. Cookery includes roasting pork on a spit, historical bread and cheese and a medieval menu of foraged fruit and vegetables. There will be the opportunity to taste food as well as to learn about the history of feasting at the Castle.
Saturday 14 May offers the opportunity for people to visit the Cornashee Inauguration site of the Maguire Chieftains. This field trip will be led by Ronan McHugh, Principal Surveyor, Queen’s University, Belfast. A further field trip to important Maguire sites at Balfour Castle, Aghalurcher and Knockninny will be led by local historian, Vicky Herbert with storytelling by Bernadette Layden.
Sunday’s activities will focus on Family History Research. The Fermanagh Family History Society will be on hand to give one-to-one advice on the different resources available for researching Fermanagh family histories.
In the words of Sarah McHugh, Museum Manager: “This is the third annual Maguire History weekend and we hope it will be the best one yet. We are adding to the wealth of activities and hope everyone with a Maguire background or an interest in Fermanagh’s history will be able to come along. Booking forms are available from our website or by contacting the museum directly.
The Maguires have a long history in Fermanagh and anyone coming along to our history weekend will learn many fascinating tales of this ruling clan. It is appropriate that the weekend should take place at Enniskillen Castle, the medieval stronghold of the ruling Maguire chieftains in Fermanagh.”
The Hospitable Evening of Medieval Food event on Friday 13 May coincides with the International Night of the Museums. Booking is essential for the weekend. Please contact Enniskillen Castle Museums at 028 6632 5000 from NI or 048 6632 5000 from ROI to secure a place for either part or all of the weekend’s activities. Charges apply.
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