Lough Erne, Northern Irelands second largest lake system and the fourth larges on the island of Ireland.
Tully Castle
Tully Castle near the village of Blaney, on Blaney Bay on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne was built for Sir John Hume, a Scottish planter. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Rory Maguire set out to recapture his family’s lands. He arrived at Tully Castle with a large following on Christmas Eve, and found the castle full of women and children. Most of the men were away. Lady Mary Hume surrendered the Castle, believing that she had assured a safe conduct for all in her care, but on Christmas Day the Maguires killed 60 women and children and 15 men, sparing only the Humes. The castle was burnt and the Humes never returned
Monea Castle, Co. Fermanagh.
Started in 1618 Monea Castle was built for Malcolm Hamilton. In the Irish Rebellion of 1641 it was attacked by Rory Maguire as it was built on lands which would have been owned by that family prior to the Plantation of Ulster. In 1688 it was occupied by Gustav Hamilton, the Governor of Enniskillen, who died in 1691. His wife and children continued to live at Monea, but had to sell the estate in 1704. A few decades later the castle was gutted by fire and subsequently abandoned.
