Maguiresbridge

From FermanaghRoots.com


Maguiresbridge
Irish: Droichead Mhig Uidhir
Maguiresbridge is located in Northern Ireland
Maguiresbridge

Maguiresbridge shown within Northern Ireland
Coordinates: 54°17′42″N 7°27′54″W / 54.295°N 7.465°W / 54.295; -7.465
Irish grid reference H347383
District Fermanagh
County County Fermanagh
Constituent country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Postcode district BT94
Dialling code 028, +44 28
European Parliament Northern Ireland
UK Parliament Fermanagh and South Tyrone
NI Assembly Fermanagh and South Tyrone
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Fermanagh

Maguiresbridge (Irish: Droichead Mhig Uidhir) is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The village is named after the bridge (over the Colebrooke River) first built by the local Maguire family.

Maguiresbridge is developing rapidly and with the construction of four new housing developments in the area totaling over 350 new properties. The population is now estimated to be over 1,500 as opposed to the 770 total in the 2001 Census. New shopping outlets have been constructed in Maguiresbridge to serve the growing population.

Demographics

Road leading into Maguiresbridge from Lisnaskea

Maguiresbridge is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 774 people living in Maguiresbridge.

Of these:

  • 25.5% were aged under 16 years and 15.6% were aged 60 and over
  • 50.4% of the population were male and 49.6% were female
  • 40.4% were from a Catholic background and 57.6% were from a Protestant background
  • 6.9% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Transport

Rail

At the turn of the last century, Maguiresbridge was served by four different railway systems which stretched throughout Northern Ireland. Maguiresbridge and Clones were two of the major junctions from Derry, Omagh, and Belfast into north Leinster.

Maguiresbridge Great Northern Railway station opened on 1 March 1859 and finally closed on 1 October 1957. This station also served as the western terminus of the narrow gauge Clogher Valley Railway. Narrow gauge traffic ceased on 31 December 1941.

Bus

  • There is a town bus service that runs daily, and a night bus service at weekends. Both services serve the town's suburbs.

Education

Schools

  • St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary
  • Maguiresbridge Controlled Primary

Religion

Maguiresbridge Presbyterian Church in 1974

Churches

  • Roman Catholic (Saint Mary's Church)
  • Church of Ireland (Christchurch)
  • Methodist Church
  • Presbyterian Church in Ireland