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Welcome to the Maguire History Gathering at Enniskillen Castle

Thursday 25 September – Friday 26 September 2025
The Maguire History Gathering presents a varied programme, exploring aspects of the Maguire history of Fermanagh, from castles and chalices to important historic sites and family history.

Thursday 25 September (Day One)
9.30am    Welcome & Registration 
10.00am     Tour of the Maguire stronghold at Enniskillen Castle, originally built over 600 years ago for Hugh ‘The Hospitable’ Maguire.  
The Castle sits next to the River Erne and was strategically important throughout its history.  Guarding one of the few passes into Ulster, it became the seat of power for the ruling Maguire chieftains in Fermanagh.
11.00am    Tea/coffee break
11.30am    Introduction to the Fermanagh Lakelands Gallery and the Lough Erne Pilgrim Way
12.00 noon    The Story of the Maguire Chalices 
There are records of 5 important chalices associated with the Maguires. This talk highlights the history of the chalices from their making to their current locations in Ireland, Scotland and Canada.
1.00pm    Lunchbreak
2.30-5pm    Boat trip & tour of Devenish Island with its distinctive Round Tower.
From the 6th century onwards, the Island became a place of great religious and spiritual importance as well as a burial place for a branch of the Maguire family.  

Friday 26 September
9.15am    Depart Enniskillen Castle Car Park on tour bus.

10.00am    Field visit to Sgiath Gabhra - the inauguration site of the Maguire chieftains of Fermanagh at Cornashee, Lisnaskea.  
11.15am    Tour of Castle Balfour, Lisnaskea. Castle Balfour is built on the site of a Maguire stronghold. 

12.30pm    Lunchbreak

1.30pm    Field visit to Aghalurcher Graveyard, an important Maguire burial site. Afterwards, travelling back to Enniskillen Castle via the early Maguire settlement site at Knockninny.
3.30pm    Maguire and Maguire-related Family History presentation and consultation session at Enniskillen Castle.

Friday 26 September (Evening Event)
7.30pm    Finale of the Maguire History Gathering and the start of the Literary Festival, Éigse na hÉirne. 

Tickets are £60 each day or £100 for both days

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If you enjoyed the Maguire History Gathering, you may also be interested in our sister festival,  Éigse na hÉirne The Conference of the Erne, exploring the history of the Medieval Irish as recorded within the Annals of Ulster on the banks of the Erne 

Delve into the depths of the Annals of Ulster, with the Éigse na hÉirne festival 

Explore the history of the Medieval Irish as recorded within the Annals of Ulster on the banks of the Erne.  

Enjoy Friday evening's social gathering with a talk centred on life in Medieval Fermanagh linking the two festivals with the end of the Maguire History Gathering and the beginning of Éigse na hÉirne. 

Saturday will have a variety of talks by experts that will give an insight into the lives of Medieval nobles including the Maguires and their related families.

Experience a culinary delight at the close of this year's annual Éigse na hÉirne Conference of the Erne.