Much of the original Old Buttermarket, built in 1835, was carefully restored in 1990. The renovated buildings now house around sixteen art & craft units, a general gift shop and a coffee shop.
This is a great place to pick up some locally made souvenirs including pottery, ceramics, handmade jewellery, textiles, original art and Irish fishing flies for the fishermen/women among you. Have a look on this site for the current offering – http://enniskillen.com/local_businesses/buttermarket-enniskillen-craft/
Even if you are not shopping the courtyard is a great place to come and relax. Rebecca’s coffee shop (in the centre of the courtyard) is good not just for coffee but has a pretty reasonable range of café style food as well – good for lunch. A great place to sit down with a bowl of hot soup and home made bread on a wet and miserable Fermanagh day, one or two of which you are bound to encounter if you spend much time in the county. Look on the bright side – without the rain you would not have the beautiful green countryside you will be enjoying here.
By way of note – the original butter market emphasised Enniskillen’s role as a market town – local farm produce (especially milk/butter) from across the county was traded here. The market was built in what was known as the Boston Quarter – a warren of alleys between Water and Market Streets. The Market was readily accessible from Boston Quay on the River Erne from which you could get a ferry across the river (the current bridge close-by didn’t exist in those days) and produce for the market could be landed from the river.
Opening Times:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5.30 pm – Summertime
Please contact stores for winter season opening hours – Café open all year round
Address: Off the Main Street
Directions: Just off the main street. Turn right down one of the side streets in the hollow as you walk from the Town Hall towards St Macartin’s Cathedral.
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries based on many trips to Enniskillen. I suggest you continue with my next entry – Blake’s of the Hollow: “A Classic Victorian Pub”– or to start the loop at the beginning go to my introductory entry – “Fare thee well Enniskillen, ………..”
The Rambling Wombat 