County Fermanagh, nestled in southwestern Northern Ireland within the province of Ulster, is renowned as the "Lakeland County" for its stunning waterways. Covering approximately 1,691 square kilometers (653 square miles) of land, nearly one-third of the county consists of lakes and rivers, dominated by the expansive Upper and Lower Lough Erne, linked by the River Erne. This geography creates a unique landscape of islands, forested shores, and gentle uplands, with the highest point at Cuilcagh Mountain (665 meters). Fermanagh borders Counties Tyrone, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, and Donegal, and uniquely shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland while being the only Northern Ireland county without a connection to Lough Neagh.

Historically, Fermanagh derives its name from the Fir Manach (Men of Manach), an ancient Celtic tribe that settled around Lough Erne. It became a stronghold of the Maguire clan in the medieval period, with Enniskillen as their key base. The county was formally established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1584–85 and later transformed by the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, which introduced English and Scottish settlers. This era saw land redistribution to families like the Coles and Humes, shaping modern demographics.