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'''Newtownbutler''' or '''Newtown Butler''' is a small [[village]] in [[County Fermanagh]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It is in the southeast corner of the county, near [[Lough Erne]], the border with [[County Monaghan]], [[Republic of Ireland]], and the town of [[Clones, County Monaghan|Clones]]. It is surrounded by small lakes and bogland. In the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] it had a population of 989 people.<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Newtownbutler@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Newtownbutler@23? | title = Census 2011 Population Statistics for Newtownbutler Settlement | publisher = [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) | access-date = 17 April 2021 | archive-date = 17 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210417204143/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Newtownbutler%40Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name%3A%20%40Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name%3A%20%20Newtownbutler%4023%3F | url-status = live}}[[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>

== History ==
Newtownbutler began to be built as a [[Plantation of Ulster|Plantation]] village in the early 18th century. It was built within the [[townland]] of Aghagay.<ref name="logainm">[http://www.logainm.ie/130653.aspx Placenames Database of Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531070458/http://www.logainm.ie/130653.aspx |date=31 May 2012}} (see archival records)</ref>

The [[Battle of Newtownbutler]] took place nearby in 1689 during the [[Williamite War in Ireland]].

=== The Troubles ===
{{Main|The Troubles in Newtownbutler}}
There were 13 deaths in and around Newtownbutler during [[the Troubles]].

== Amenities ==

[[Crom Castle]] and Estate lie on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, just 3 miles from Newtownbutler. The estate was established in the early 17th century during the Plantation of Ulster. [[Crom Estate]] is owned by the Crichton family, Earls of Erne and is leased to the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] for public use. The estate covers over {{convert|1900|acre|km2|0}} of woods, parkland and wetland. Crom Estate is also one of the most important sites in Northern Ireland for bats, with all eight Northern Ireland species recorded on the estate.

The present day Crom Castle was built in 1820 and, although Queen Victoria's reign began in 1837, the building was built in the Victorian style. The castle was designed by the English architect [[Edward Blore]], who was also responsible for sections of Buckingham Palace.

[[File:Crom Castle in 2008.jpg|thumb|Crom Castle]]

The village currently has two pubs, An Chead Chumann and Mulligans Bar and Lounge which regularly host an array of events and attract crowds in from across the county. The Lanesborough Arms Hotel (formerly Reilly's Bar) was another well known public house in Newwtownbutler that closed in 2004. The traditional bar was removed and transferred to the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. The village also has two supermarkets, two takeaways, a butchers, a chemists, a credit union, a church and parish hall, an [[Orange Order|Orange hall]], a community centre, [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] grounds and a large community playpark.

== Notable people ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
* [[William Thompson (Methodist)|William Thompson]] (1733–1799) the first [[List of Presidents of the Methodist Conference|president of the Methodist Conference]] after Wesley's death was born in Newtownbutler.
* [[Charles Irwin]] (1824 - 8 April 1873) was born in [[Manorhamilton]], [[County Leitrim]], and was an [[Ireland|Irish]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]]. During the [[Siege of Lucknow]] on 16 November 1857 at [[Lucknow]], [[India]], Private Irwin showed conspicuous bravery at the assault on the Secundra Bagh when, although severely wounded through the right shoulder, he was one of the first to enter the building under heavy fire. He died on 29 March 1873 at Newtownbutler and is buried in Saint Mark's Churchyard, [[Magheraveely]], County Fermanagh.
* [[Constantine Scollen]] (4 April 1841 - 8 November 1902) was born just outside the village, on Galloon Island in Lough Erne. He became a famous missionary among the native peoples of North America and actually lived with the people of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Canada for almost a decade. He spent over thirty years on the prairies and died in Dayton, Ohio.

== Transport ==
[[Newtownbutler railway station]] opened on 26 June 1858 and finally closed on 1 October 1957.<ref>{{cite web | title=Newtownbutler station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-11-22 | format=PDF | archive-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | url-status=live}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
===2021 census===
{{bar box
|title = National Identity of Newtownbutler area residents (2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=DZ21&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7EDZ21=N20002055+N20002056+N20002054+N20002053+N20002052 |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=DZ21&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7EDZ21=N20002055+N20002056+N20002054+N20002053+N20002052 |website=NISRA |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=DZ21&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7EDZ21=N20002055+N20002056+N20002054+N20002053+N20002052 |website=NISRA |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Nationality |right1=Per cent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|British|Blue|18.7}}
{{bar percent|Irish|DarkOrchid|59.2}}
{{bar percent|Northern Irish|grey|26.6}}
Residents could identify as more than one nationality. 
}}

On Census Day (2021) the usually resident population of Newtownbutler village and surrounding countryside was 3,039. This incorporates NISRA mapped areas Erne East F2, F3, F4, E4 and E5.<ref>{{cite web |title= Newtownbutler Area 2021  |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/variables?d=PEOPLE&v=DZ21&~DZ21=N20002055+N20002056+N20002054+N20002053+N20002052 |website=NISRA |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref> Of these:
* 71.7% (2179) identified as Roman Catholic religion.  
* 20.3% (617) identified as 'Protestant and Other Christian' religion.
* 7% (212) had no religious background.
* 0.42% (13) had an 'Other' religious background.<ref name="2021 religion">{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=DZ21&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_AGG4&%7EDZ21=N20002055+N20002056+N20002054+N20002053+N20002052 |website=NISRA |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref>
* 14% (431) indicated that they had a British only identity, 
* 56% (1,704) had an Irish only identity 
* 21% (635) had a Northern Irish only identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity)<ref>{{cite web |title=National identity (person based) - basic detail (classification 1) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=DZ21&v=NAT_ID_BASIC&%7EDZ21=N20002055+N20002056+N20002054+N20002053+N20002052 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>

===2011 census===
Newtownbutler is classified as a small village or hamlet by the [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 989 people living in Newtownbutler.<ref name=Census2011/> Of these:
*20.9% were aged under 16 years and 13.8% were aged 60 and over
*49% of the population were male and 51% were female
*81.5% were from a [[Catholic]] background; 17% were from a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] background and 1.5% were from an Other background
*19% indicated that they had a British national identity, 53.5% had an Irish national identity and 27.8% had a Northern Irish national identity.

==Sport==
Newtownbutler is home to the [[Newtownbutler First Fermanaghs GAA|Newtownbutler First Fermanaghs]] [[Gaelic football]] team. They play at all levels of football in both the men's and women's categories. Their last [[Fermanagh Senior Football Championship|Fermanagh Senior Championship]] title came in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/newtown-triumph-26316805.html|title=Newtown triumph|date=10 September 2007|work=[[Irish Independent]]|accessdate=18 January 2022}}</ref>

== Groups ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}

=== Marching bands ===
According to the Ulster Bands Forum there are six marching bands operating in Newtownbutler Ward. Four are from Newtownbutler while the other two operate in the nearby village of Magheraveely. The four from Newtownbutler are: Feaugh Pipe Band; Loughkillygreen Accordion Band; Newtownbutler Flute Band; and [[Wattlebridge]] Accordion Band.<ref name=Cen>{{cite web |title=Ulster Bands Forum |url=http://www.ulsterbandsforum.net/ |access-date=29 October 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101011718/http://www.ulsterbandsforum.net/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Orange lodges ===
According to the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Newtownbutler District No.1 is the largest district in County Fermanagh with ten men's lodges and one women's lodge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland|url=https://www.goli.org.uk/|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=20 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120213502/http://grandorangelodge.co.uk/press/PressReleases-2000/000705-violence-condemned.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The district covers the wards of Newtownbutler and [[Roslea]]. Five lodges operate within Newtownbutler and its immediate surrounding area. These are: LOL 184 Newtownbutler; LOL 391 Wattlebridge; LOL 854 Loughkillygreen; LOL 1219 Crom Castle; and LOL 1320 Feaugh.

There are also three [[Royal Black Preceptory]] lodges operating in the Newtownbutler area. They are: RBP 154 Newtownbutler; RBP 204 Loughkillygreen; RBP 811 Drummully <ref>{{cite web|title= The Royal Black Institution |url=http://royalblack.org/}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Market Houses in Northern Ireland]]
* [[Wattlebridge]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312114432/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=5&to=119&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland]

{{County Fermanagh}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in County Fermanagh]]