Enniskillen Exhibition Honours Local WWI Heroes of the ‘Back Streets’

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council recently launched a new exhibition, The Backstreet Boys: The Great War Sacrifice of Enniskillen’s Dardanelles, at Enniskillen Castle, commemorating the bravery and loss of over 70 men from Enniskillen’s “Back Streets” who lost their lives during the First World War, including the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. The exhibition marks the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign and stands as a moving tribute to the spirit, courage and sacrifice of those involved.

Known locally as ‘The Streets’ – Abbey Street, Dame Street, Head Street, Mary Street, Sharp’s Row, Strand Street and Queen Street – this area also became known as the ‘Dardanelles’ due to the high number of men from there, particularly within the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who participated in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.

Speaking at the launch, Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Shirley Hawkes said,
”The Council is committed to valuing and enriching our heritage and this is an excellent exhibition, commemorating the courage of these men and the sacrifices they made.

It also commemorates the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in memory of the battle of the Turkish Dardanelles, where many of these men lost their lives.

Exhibitions such as this help to ensure that these men are not forgotten for their bravery and dedication and the heroic sacrifices they made.”
Guest speaker and military historian Mark Scott reflected on the tragedy’s local impact, noting:

“So many local lives were lost in the Dardanelles, and we are privileged to launch an exhibition which is really a memorial to them, and illustrates graphically the scale of the tragedy which struck that little society. It is also fitting to give recognition to the people of Enniskillen’s Dardanelles.
We are most grateful to Fermanagh Genealogy Centre and Fermanagh County Museum for their contributions to this collaborative project to give lasting recognition of the spirit and courage of an unassuming and indeed neglected part of Fermanagh society.”

The exhibition is a collaboration between Fermanagh Genealogy Centre, the Inniskillings Museum and Fermanagh County Museum. Maeve Cadden, Curator at the Inniskillings Museum commented,

“This project was created through a shared commitment to preserving and promoting Enniskillen’s rich local heritage. Many young men from this area of Enniskillen, so closely associated with the military and which provided many services to soldiers, joined the Army, particularly the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

The Inniskillings Museum was honoured to support the development of The Backstreet Boys: The Great War Sacrifice of Enniskillen’s Dardanelles in close collaboration with the Fermanagh County Museum and Fermanagh Genealogy Centre. It remains a living and evolving tribute, continuing to grow in names, artefacts, and significance for our community and for the families of the men whose stories it respectfully commemorates.”

While Mervyn Hall, secretary of Fermanagh Genealogy Centre, said,

“2025 is the 110th anniversary of the First World War 1915 Gallipoli Campaign. It is fitting that an area of Enniskillen, known as the Dardanelles, should be remembered for its young men’s sacrifice. In total over 70 men, who lived in Enniskillen’s ‘Back Streets’, died in the period 1914-1920 serving in the Great War. The Back Streets Boys exhibition highlights this sacrifice.”

The exhibition is open to the public at Enniskillen Castle Museum until 7 September 2025. Further information on admission to the exhibition is available at www.enniskillencastle.co.uk or telephone 028 6632 5000