COONEEN

The Cooneen area developed its own autonomy as the nineteenth century progressed. It was originally a district known as Aghalurcher West but became readily identified as Cooneen or Coonian as it became a separate parish unit in both the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Churches. Its identity was further reinforced when it acquired its own sub post office in the townland of Cooneen. The spelling has fluctuated over the years with variants ranging from Cunen to Cunyan as well as the present current usages of Cooneen or Coonian.

The area of Cooneen was fairly resistant to change and as late as 1900, 90% of the houses were still thatched. Many farmers sold their land to the forestry and then took jobs in the forestry service. They were paid £4 per week and were able to live for the most part in their own houses. 

Like most country areas improvements came slowly. The tarring of the roads in the 1940's and 1950's opened up the countryside. The Electricity Board surveyed the area in September 1963 and installed the first mains supply in the spring of the following year. This brought with it a whole range of time and labour saving devices. It was a revolution in its own right.

The first telephone was at Cooneen Post Office in the late 1930's and the first wireless came to the area in the 1920's. The Montgomery's of Cooneen had the first car – a Model T Ford which they bought in 1922.

The principal local fairs were at Maguiresbridge and Lisnaskea. Sadie Kyle writes: 'There was no transport like nowadays. Men left early, walking the animals to the fair and maybe bought some and walked them home'.  Fair days were important meeting places and many a good match was made there. Other points of social contact were at the blacksmith's forge or the local corn mill.

These changes while of little relevance to the broad canvas of history are important benchmarks locally. Much of this story has so far been unrecorded. It is this minutiae of history that means so much to a local story. The Cooneen 'historians' have left no stone unturned and what they have recorded will be judged extremely worthwhile by those that come after them.

"Cooneen  - The Road to the Hills"

Jenkin Loughs, Co. Fermanagh
Jenkin Loughs are surrounded by Mullaghfad Forest and are noted for their Wild Brown Trout angling. Contact Cooneen/Coonian Community Association +44 (0) 28 8952 1818 or email cooneencoonian1@btinternet.com

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