Crom Castle, Fermanagh

Castle Balfour, Lisnaskea 17th Century Plantation Castle Like the castle at Enniskillen, Castle Balfour was built on the site of a Maguire stronghold, Castle Skeagh. Lisnaskea town devoloped around the original castle. It was built in c.1619 by scottish stonemasons, for Sir James Balfour 1st Baron Balfour of Glenawley, a Scottish nobleman It was built in typical Scottish style, apart from the English styled entrance bay. Differences in style on many of the plantation castles occur due to the Scottish or English nationality of the 'Undertakers' and also if they were built by either Scottish or Irish masons. The remains of the castle are described on the Northern Ireland Sites and Monumentsrecord as an L-shaped block with an off-shoot at the southeast corner. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1803. The Crom, Monea and Tully plantation castles were also built by Scottish undertakers in the Scottish style.
Scottish corbelling	English style entrance bay

Situated: From Lisnaskea Main St (A34) head west on church lane. The Castle is at the far side of the graveyard. But is best viewed from outside the graveyard. Discoverer Map 17: H 36208 33655. Last visit July 2026. Longitude: 7° 26' 42.7" W Latitude: 54° 15' 02.2" N Google Map Photos: José Gutiérrez.
Ref: Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record website. Ref: Castle Balfour \| Enniskillen Castle Ref: Waterman, D. M. “Castle Balfour, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh.” Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. 31, 1968, pp. 71–76. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20567630

Castle Balfour, Lisnaskea

17th Century Plantation Castle

Like the castle at Enniskillen, Castle Balfour was built on the site of a Maguire stronghold, Castle Skeagh. Lisnaskea town devoloped around the original castle. It was built in c.1619 by scottish stonemasons, for Sir James Balfour 1st Baron Balfour of Glenawley, a Scottish nobleman It was built in typical Scottish style, apart from the English styled entrance bay. Differences in style on many of the plantation castles occur due to the Scottish or English nationality of the 'Undertakers' and also if they were built by either Scottish or Irish masons. The remains of the castle are described on the Northern Ireland Sites and Monumentsrecord as an L-shaped block with an off-shoot at the southeast corner. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1803. The Crom, Monea and Tully plantation castles were also built by Scottish undertakers in the Scottish style.

Scottish corbelling

English style entrance bay

Situated: From Lisnaskea Main St (A34) head west on church lane. The Castle is at the far side of the graveyard. But is best viewed from outside the graveyard.

Discoverer Map 17: H 36208 33655. Last visit July 2026.

Longitude: 7° 26' 42.7" W

Latitude: 54° 15' 02.2" N

Google Map

Photos: José Gutiérrez.

Ref: Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record website.

Ref: Castle Balfour | Enniskillen Castle

Ref: Waterman, D. M. “Castle Balfour, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh.” Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. 31, 1968, pp. 71–76. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20567630

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