Northern Ireland: Belleek, County Fermanagh Landscapes
Aug 12, 2020 15:00:19 #
Belleek (from Irish Béal Leice, meaning 'mouth of the flagstones' is a village and civil parish in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. While the greater part of the village lies within County Fermanagh, part of it crosses the border and the River Erne into County Donegal. It lies in the historic barony of Lurg. It had a population of 904 people in the 2011 Census, and is situated within Fermanagh and Omagh district.
Belleek is a busy market town with a variety of pubs, shops, restaurants and a hotel. It is noted for the fine parian china produced there at the Belleek Pottery, the oldest pottery in Ireland. The china is valued by collectors from all over the world. It is also a noted location for angling and other recreational activities and is now linked to the River Shannon by canal.
The highest temperature in Northern Ireland recorded by the Met Office, 30.8 °C (87.4 °F), occurred at Knockarevan (near Belleek) in County Fermanagh on 30 June 1976.
The village is the most westerly settlement in Northern Ireland and thus the most westerly settlement in the United Kingdom. The majority of the pottery is still produced in Belleek today using the same procedures of over 160 years.
There is evidence of Neolithic settlers in the area, and later legend has it that Fionn mac Cumhail's men sharpened their swords on the big limestone rock at Belleek Falls. (The flagstone, which gave its name to the area, was destroyed together with the falls during drainage works in the 1880s).
A castle was built at Caol Uisce near Belleek at the entrance to Lower Lough Erne by Gilbert Costello in 1212. Belleek town in its present layout was founded on the Blennerhassett estate during the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century. The Battle of Belleek, also known as the Battle of the Erne Fords, was fought on the River Erne near Belleek in Fermanagh, Ireland, on 10 October 1593. It was part of the buildup to the Nine Years' War. The battle was fought between a Gaelic Irish army under Hugh Maguire, lord of Fermanagh—who had begun a revolt against the English—and an English Crown expeditionary force under Sir Henry Bagenal, supported by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. Maguire's force was defeated, but the bulk of his army was unscathed. Hugh O'Neill would later join Maguire in war against the English.
The establishment of the pottery in 1857 saw the start of growth and the town developed further with the founding of a cooperative creamery in 1899, a police station, a courthouse, post office and dispensary.
Belleek was one of several Catholic border villages in Fermanagh that would have been transferred to the Irish Free State had the recommendations of the Irish Boundary Commission been enacted in 1925.
The Troubles: Located on the border, there were a number of incidents in Belleek during the Troubles – which resulted in eight fatalities between 1972 and 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleek,_County_Fermanagh
The first five images were taken on "terra firma" across the road from the Belleek Pottery factory and the last 5 from the tour bus windows on our way back to the Loch Earne Resort where we spent 3 nights. Enjoy!
Mark
Belleek is a busy market town with a variety of pubs, shops, restaurants and a hotel. It is noted for the fine parian china produced there at the Belleek Pottery, the oldest pottery in Ireland. The china is valued by collectors from all over the world. It is also a noted location for angling and other recreational activities and is now linked to the River Shannon by canal.
The highest temperature in Northern Ireland recorded by the Met Office, 30.8 °C (87.4 °F), occurred at Knockarevan (near Belleek) in County Fermanagh on 30 June 1976.
The village is the most westerly settlement in Northern Ireland and thus the most westerly settlement in the United Kingdom. The majority of the pottery is still produced in Belleek today using the same procedures of over 160 years.
There is evidence of Neolithic settlers in the area, and later legend has it that Fionn mac Cumhail's men sharpened their swords on the big limestone rock at Belleek Falls. (The flagstone, which gave its name to the area, was destroyed together with the falls during drainage works in the 1880s).
A castle was built at Caol Uisce near Belleek at the entrance to Lower Lough Erne by Gilbert Costello in 1212. Belleek town in its present layout was founded on the Blennerhassett estate during the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century. The Battle of Belleek, also known as the Battle of the Erne Fords, was fought on the River Erne near Belleek in Fermanagh, Ireland, on 10 October 1593. It was part of the buildup to the Nine Years' War. The battle was fought between a Gaelic Irish army under Hugh Maguire, lord of Fermanagh—who had begun a revolt against the English—and an English Crown expeditionary force under Sir Henry Bagenal, supported by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. Maguire's force was defeated, but the bulk of his army was unscathed. Hugh O'Neill would later join Maguire in war against the English.
The establishment of the pottery in 1857 saw the start of growth and the town developed further with the founding of a cooperative creamery in 1899, a police station, a courthouse, post office and dispensary.
Belleek was one of several Catholic border villages in Fermanagh that would have been transferred to the Irish Free State had the recommendations of the Irish Boundary Commission been enacted in 1925.
The Troubles: Located on the border, there were a number of incidents in Belleek during the Troubles – which resulted in eight fatalities between 1972 and 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleek,_County_Fermanagh
The first five images were taken on "terra firma" across the road from the Belleek Pottery factory and the last 5 from the tour bus windows on our way back to the Loch Earne Resort where we spent 3 nights. Enjoy!
Mark
Belleek Fort across the River Earne in County Donnegal, Irish Republic
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A Brief Break in the Clouds
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Loch Earne
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Aug 12, 2020 15:02:00 #
Aug 12, 2020 15:19:49 #
UTMike wrote:
The first shot should go on the wall, Mark.
Thanks so much Mike. I really appreciate that!
Aug 12, 2020 15:31:45 #
Aug 12, 2020 16:08:33 #
When you come home with photos like these it is hard not to fall in love with the Irish countryside...Excellent photos, Mark. So did you come home with a new set of china?!! 
Aug 12, 2020 17:08:56 #
gsmith051 wrote:
Like your set Mark. Nicely done.
Thanks very much George.
Aug 12, 2020 17:11:25 #
jederick wrote:
When you come home with photos like these it is hard not to fall in love with the Irish countryside...Excellent photos, Mark. So did you come home with a new set of china?!!
No china Jim - That came from Italy several years ago. We did buy baskets for our 2 daughters. Thanks so much for your kind comments
Aug 12, 2020 18:51:00 #
Aug 12, 2020 19:24:21 #
Aug 12, 2020 19:49:19 #
srfmhg wrote:
Belleek (from Irish Béal Leice, meaning 'mouth of ... (show quote)
Outstanding set Mark. I agree with UTMike regarding the first one. I'm still amazed at the quality of the photos you get from the bus.
Aug 12, 2020 20:54:59 #
DJphoto wrote:
Outstanding set Mark. I agree with UTMike regarding the first one. I'm still amazed at the quality of the photos you get from the bus.
Thanks so much Dennis. I appreciate!
Aug 13, 2020 03:02:40 #
Aug 13, 2020 04:37:07 #
Aug 13, 2020 06:48:23 #
Aug 13, 2020 06:50:41 #
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