Ballinamallard
Coordinates: 54°25′13″N 7°35′42″W / 54.42023°N 7.5949°W
| Bellanamallard | |
| Irish: Béal Átha na Mallacht | |
 The Methodist church |
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 Bellanamallard shown within Northern Ireland |
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| Population | 1,340 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| Irish grid reference | H260528 |
| District | Fermanagh |
| County | County Fermanagh |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ENNISKILLEN |
| Postcode district | BT94 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| NI Assembly | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Fermanagh | |
Ballinamallard or Bellanamallard[1][2] (from Irish: Béal Átha na Mallacht meaning "ford-mouth of the curses"[3]) is a small village and townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,340 people in the 2001 Census. It lies to the north of Enniskillen and is within the Fermanagh District Council area.
The village has won several "best kept village" titles, and has a fountain to mark the honour. There has been only one local primary school: Ballinamallard Controlled Primary School, since the other, Shanmullagh Primary School, closed in August 2008.
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[edit] History
In the early 20th century, thousands of Cooneyites or "Dippers", followers of Edward Cooney and William Irvine, flocked to religious conventions at Crocknacrieve House near Ballinamallard. Converts were baptised by immersing them in Lough Erne or tributary rivers, events which attracted large crowds and international attention.[4][5]
[edit] Economy
Many family businesses are located in Ballinamallard. In the 1970s the Development Association initiated some useful projects. The old Great Northern Railway station was restored to become the Rascal’s Playstation, a purpose-built child care centre, while the Commons was transformed into a children’s playground and industrial units were established on the Enniskillen road.
Ballinamallard’s best known family are the Fishers, whose firm, Fisher Engineering, has brought substantial employment to the village. The company, which specialises in agricultural engineering and building construction, was founded by the late Thomas Fisher when he returned from World War II. Today Fishers are one of the foremost steel construction firms in the British Isles servicing such projects as the Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey Arena, both in Belfast.
[edit] Transport
Ballinamallard railway station opened on 19 August 1854, but was finally closed on 1 October 1957.[6]
[edit] Sport
- The village is the home of Ballinamallard United, which plays in the Irish Football League 1st Division. Roy Carroll, a former Manchester United goalkeeper used to play for Ballinamallard United.
- The area is particularly noted for its trout fishing, with Erne tributaries flowing through and around the village.
- Birthplace of Circuit of Ireland Rally driver Bertie Fisher
[edit] People
- Writer Rudyard Kipling, former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin and noted painter, Sir Edward Burne-Jones all trace their heritage directly back to Ballinamallard native, Rev. James McDonald who himself was a pioneer Methodist minister and contemporary of John Wesley
- In August 1998, Queen Elizabeth II was welcomed in Ballinamallard after visiting the site of the Omagh bombing, where she left her condolences. She returned in 2002 to open a foot bridge and nursery school as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
[edit] 2001 Census
Ballinamallard is classified as a village by the NI 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. Of these:
- 24.9% were aged under 16 and 14.9% were aged 60 and over
- 49.3% of the population were male and 50.7% were female
- 3.4% were from a Catholic background and 95.6% were from a Protestant background
- 3.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
[edit] References
- ^ Placenames NI
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ Flanagan, Deirdre & Laurence; Irish Place Names, page 172. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-7171-3396-6
- ^ "The Pilgrim Tramps. The Rite of Baptism. Immersion of 27 Followers in the Ballinamallard River" The Impartial Reporter and Farmers Journal, Enniskillin, Northern Ireland. 29 September 1904, p. 8.
- ^ "Crowds Await Millennium. Cooneyites Hold Prayer Meetings and Baptize Hundreds Daily in Ireland" The New York Times, New York, New York. 4 August 1909, p. 3.
- ^ "Ballinamallard station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
