From December 16, 1943 to June 1944 the 3rd Battalion 28th Infantry were based at Crom Castle, but due to the secrecy of the preparations for D-Day very little was known about their activities at the time. At one point it was estimated that up to one quarter of Fermanagh’s population was made up of American servicemen and at Crom there were 800 servicemen stationed there at any time.

Please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/crom for more information on what there is to do on the estate.

The first US soldiers arrived at Belfast docks on January 26, 1942 and were transported by rail to bases throughout Northern Ireland, with 25 located in County Fermanagh. It was an extremely busy period for the railway companies scheduling special troop trains and excursions.  For thousands of American GIs the beautiful Lakeland was their final ‘port of call’ before boarding a train at Enniskillen Station for Belfast and  deployment to Europe & Africa.  A trip to Headhunters Barbershop & Railway Museum is like taking a remarkable journey into the past bringing the golden age of the railway to life. Visitors start their journey of discovery at the reconstructed Railway Booking Office where the ticket collector invites you to step on board and enjoy the evocative nostalgia, social heritage and amazing artefacts associated with the railways, which operated throughout Fermanagh and the Border Counties until their closure in 1957.

Please visit their website to find out more about this fantastic museum and barbershop where you can get a haircut while learning about the golden age of railway! (http://www.headhuntersmuseum.com/)

Located on the western shores of Lough Neagh, Cluntoe Airfield in Ardbode was built between December 1940 and July 1942 by the RAF. It consisted of three runways, a three mile perimeter, taxiway, 30 hardstands, 50 fighter pads, and two T2 hangars. Additionally there were 500 buildings which included headquarters, living quarters, communal buildings, a hospital, a cinema, a church, sewage facilities, a shooting range, and fuel & bomb dumps. The base was handed over to the USAAF in August 1943. Cluntoe’s busiest months were May- August 1944, with an output of 330 heavy bomber crews in July. Cluntoe trained the officer elements of heavy bomber crews – pilots, navigators, bombardiers and radio operators. You can drive around the site of the old Cluntoe Airfield and view remaining buildings which includes the control tower.

There are lots of buildings still remaining to visit which once belonged to the bustling Cluntoe Airbase making it the perfect spot to get  a taste of what life was like on the old airfield. By 1943 over 3500 American troops were stationed on the base, tripling the population of Ardboe. Among the troops, money was in abundance providing a boost to local shops and businesses and the construction of the airfield had a massive impact on the area and its inhabitants.

The current Killymoon Castle was built by Colonel William Stewart in 1803. During the Second World War the US military used Killymoon Castle as a base. Quonset huts were built on the grounds for the men while officers enjoyed the use of the castle. Much evidence still remains at the castle with carvings on walls, bleach baths, an old stirrup-pump and an old vehicle inspection ramp. A memorial stone is also located on the grounds of Killymoon Castle dedicated to the men of the 505^th Regimental Combat team, 82^nd Airborne Division of the United States Army stationed in Cookstown from 1943 – 1944.
While here you can visit Tommy’s Kitchen for a cup of tea and slice of cake – visit their Facebook page for more information. Please check the below website as prior arrangements may need to be made before visiting the castle (https://www.midulstercouncil.org/visitor

* The Eisenhower Trail is currently under development. Please keep checking back! It will cover the counties of Fermanagh and Tyrone *

While you are waiting why not have a look at The Patton Trail and follow the path of the GIs throughout the counties of Armagh and Down.