Ballinamallard
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|---|---|
 The Methodist church | |
  Ballinamallard Location withinNorthern Ireland | |
| Population | 1,364 (2021 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | H260528 |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ENNISKILLEN |
| Postcode district | BT94 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
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Ballinamallard orBellanamallard[1][2] (from Irish Béal Átha na Mallacht 'ford-mouth of thecurses'[3]) is a smallvillage andtownland inCounty Fermanagh,Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,364 people in the2021 Census.[4] It lies to the north ofEnniskillen and is withinFermanagh and Omagh district.
The village has won several "best kept village" titles, and has a fountain to mark the honour. There has been only one localprimary school: Ballinamallard Controlled Primary School, since the other, Shanmullagh Primary School, closed in August 2008.
As of 2016 NISRA estimate that 2,754 people live in the Ballinamallard Electoral Ward, which encompasses a larger area than the settlement.
Magheracross Parish is said to have been founded bySt Patrick in about AD 450. In about AD 550St Columba passed thorough Ballinamallard. The first records of the parish itself were in 1492 with Terence Macgillacossgli (McCusker/Cosgrave/Cuskelly) is recorded asvicar of Magheracross and Derrybrusk, Maghercross was at that time part of Derryvullen parish.
In 1500 twoMaguireprinces were ambushed by theO'Neills at Ballinamallard in their conflict and in 1539 the original Magheracross church destroyed by fire.[citation needed]
1593 saw the start ofHugh O'Neill'swar that resulted in theFlight of the Earls in 1611. Following whichHenry Folliot of Pyrton inWiltshire, was granted themanor of Drumchine (later Newporton) including 1,500Irish acres through Magheracross parish. He built Castle Murray andimportedtenants from theScottish Borders betweenDumfries andCarlisle who were fleeing theunion of England and Scotland and the consequent pacification of the previously lawless area aroundAnglo-Scottish border underJames I that was taking place at that time.
By 1622 there were 20 houses in Ballinamallard and the Church "standing but notrepaired within". In 1629 the old graveyard at Kilskeery and Magheracross was officially united with Kilskeery parish.
Christian religion was important through the 18th century.[citation needed] In 1704,Rev N Browne,Rector ofKilskeery, translated thePrayer Book intoIrish. In 1766,Magheracross parish split from Kilskeery and in 1769John Wesley visited the area bringingMethodism. Coa Chapel was built in 1770. Ballinamallard Church of Ireland church was built in 1785 and the Methodist Hall was constructed in 1800. The presentChurch of Ireland was built in 1844.[citation needed]
The 18th century also saw non-religious developments, Magheracross House was built in 1740 and the Ballinamallard bridge was built in 1750. 1783 saw theRepeal of Poyning's Law and the birth of Orange Peggy.[citation needed]
In the early 20th century, thousands ofCooneyites or "Dippers", followers ofEdward Cooney andWilliam Irvine, flocked to religiousconventions at Crocknacrieve House near Ballinamallard. Converts were baptised by immersing them inLough Erne or tributary rivers, events which attracted large crowds and international attention.[5][6]
On the 16 October 1943 aRoyal Air Force,Consolidated PBY Catalina (AH551)flying boat had departedRAF Killadeas on a training. The aircraft crashed into a hillside near Ballinamallard after the crew failed to recover from a practice stall. Eight of the Ten crew died in the crash.[7]
Many family businesses are located in Ballinamallard. In the 1970s the Development Association initiated some useful projects. The formerGreat Northern Railway station was converted to become Rascal's PlayStation, a purpose-built child care centre; the Commons was transformed to a children's playground, and industrial units were established on Enniskillen Road.
In 2007,Severfield purchased the Fisher family's Fisher Engineering for £88 million. The structural steelwork contractor was founded by the late Thomas Fisher when he returned fromWorld War II, originally as an agricultural engineer, and went on to provide structural steelwork for theBelfast Waterfront Hall andDublin Convention Centre. Now known as Severfield (NI) Ltd, it continues to be a major employer in the area.[8]
Ballinamallard railway station opened on 19 August 1854, but was finally closed on 1 October 1957.[9]
The village is the home to theassociation football clubsFermanagh Mallards F.C. andBallinamallard United. Ballinamallard United, which plays in theIFA Premiership, was previously the club of formerManchester United goalkeeperRoy Carroll.
The area is also noted for itstrout fishing, withErne tributaries flowing through and around the village.[citation needed]
The town of Ballinamallard is labelled as Super Data Zone Erne_North_E according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.[11] On census day 2021 (21 March 2021), the usually resident population of Ballinamallard Settlement was 1,364.[4] Of these:
On census day 2011 (27 March 2011), the usually resident population of Ballinamallard Settlement was 1,436 accounting for 0.08% of the NI total.[16] Of these:
As of the 2011 census, in Ballinamallard Settlement, considering the population aged 3 years old and over:[16]
As of the 2001 census, Ballinamallard was classified as a village by theNorthern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 1,000 people and 2,250 people). On census day 29 April 2001, there were 1,340 people living in Ballinamallard.[17] Of these: