Belleek, County Fermanagh
Belleek
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 Belleek
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| Belleek shown within Northern Ireland | |
| Population | 836 (2001 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | G943593 |
| • Belfast | 104 miles |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ENNISKILLEN |
| Postcode district | BT93 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
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 into County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland. This makes Belleek the western-most village in the United Kingdom, as well as the closest United Kingdom settlement to the United States of America. It lies in the historic barony of Lurg. It had a population of 836 people in the 2001 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.
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.
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