Looking Back: Lisbellaw Mill to Close

(See report in the Looking Back column below).

Also pictured are Thomas Lindsay (on right) and William Beatty of Kilmore North, Maguiresbridge, examining the tweed at it comes from the shrinking machine. The Impartial Reporter, April 22, 1965.

25 YEARS AGO - April 26, 1990: Hosting the all-Ireland sheepdog trials - Fermanagh is to host the all-Ireland sheepdog trials this summer for the first time. The Irish National Trial is to take place at Pettigo in July. Organised by the International Sheepdog Society based in Bedford, it is one of the four national events to select winners from the home countries to compete in the International later in the year. The task of hosting this major event goes to Pettigo Sheep Dog Society, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1987. Its committee will be making the final arrangements for the event on John Aiken’s farm at Springtown, outside Pettigo.

Why Florence is to spend summer in the wilderness - A geography student from Fermanagh is spending the summer in the Arctic wilderness on a scientific and environmental expedition. Florence Elliott, Lisbofin House, Letterbreen, and 23 of her fellow undergraduates from Sheffield University are travelling to the Bersaerkerbrae Glacier in an uninhabited part of Greenland. The 12 geography and 12 engineering students will be establishing a base camp for future expeditions to this environmentally sensitive area.

Gardeners put on a fine display - Fermanagh Gardening Society celebrated the 25th Daffodil and Spring Flower Show, with the biggest entry and best attendance for years. The Show in Fermanagh College of Further Education, displayed the best in many varieties of daffodils grown by exhibitors throughout Northern Ireland and a fine display of Spring flowers and plants by local gardeners.

Flower-power pays off - Rosslea student Olivia McMahon put flower-power to the test and scooped one of the top prizes in a painting competition. She collected the J.A. Knaggs Shield for the best painting in the Under-18 years section of the Fermanagh Gardening Society’s 25th annual daffodil and spring flower show, held at Fermanagh College of Further Education last Saturday. The shield was one of the new awards presented for painting at the show.

Johanna’s concert is last in lunchtime series - The final “Young Musicians at Lunchtime Concert” of the season will take place next Thursday, May 3, in Enniskillen Library. The young musician will be Johanna Forbes, who will play the viola and piano. Johanna has recently won the Impartial Reporter Bursary at the Fermanagh Feis. An interesting and varied programme has been put together for this concert. There was a large audience for the last concert.

50 YEARS AGO - April 22, 1965: New Organ in Ardess Church - When the pleasing tones of the new pipe organ sounded in Ardess Church, near Kesh, on Easter Sunday afternoon it marked the culmination of ten years of effort by the Rector and congregation of Magherculmoney Parish. The organ was dedicated by the Bishop of Clogher, Rt. Rev. Alan Buchanan, D.D., at a special service in the presence of a congregation of 350, which included many visitors from neighbouring parishes and various parts of the Diocese. The service was conducted by the rector, Rev. R.J. Doonan, and the Lessons were read by Rev. E.N. Rowe, rector of Colaghty Parish. During the service the organ was played by Mr. Anthony Smith, F.R.C.O., the organist of St. Macartin’s Cathedral.

Ballinamallard R.U.C. Presentation - At a pleasant dinner party in the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas, last week, officers and men of the R.U.C. in the Kesh district said farewell to Sergeant Charles Blair, of Ballinamallard, and gifts were presented to him and his wife. Sergeant Blair has retired after 32 years in the R.U.C., 26 of which were spent in County Fermanagh, in stations at Newtownbutler, Belcoo, Lack and Ballinamallard, where he has been for the past 12 years.

Outdoor Bowling in Enniskillen - Now that the indoor bowling season is drawing to a close all bowlers will, no doubt, be hoping for favourable weather for the opening of the new green at Enniskillen on 1st May.

Fivemiletown Violinist’s Success - At Sligo Feis Ceoil on Tuesday, Miss Heather McKeown, Fivemiletown, won the Kitsy Franklin Cup for violin playing.

Personal - Miss Joan Trimble, Mus.B., will be an adjudicator at the forthcoming Dublin Feis Ceoil.

Lisbellaw Mill to Close - photo caption - Arthur Gilroy, Lisbellaw, who is 62, and his assistant, John McPhillips, aged 19, of Drumod, Lisbellaw, are seen here warping the yarn. Mr. Gilroy completed 48 years with Henderson & Eadie last September. He joined the firm in 1916 when he was 13 years old. At that time work commenced at 6 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. - a 55 and a half hour week. “I found the Hendersons and Eadies very good employers,” Mr. Gilroy said. “There was always very good relations with the workers. I was very happy here.” John McPhillips, who has been in the mill for five years, also liked the work and will be sorry to leave.

75 YEARS AGO - April 25, 1940: Enniskillen B.B. Display - The 4th annual display of the 1st Enniskillen Company of the Boys’ Brigade and Life Boys’ Team was staged in the Guild Hall, Enniskillen, on Friday evening last. This year the proceeds were devoted to the Enniskillen branch of Ulster War Hospitals Supply Depot and there was a very large audience, which greatly appreciated the various items. The Earl of Erne was unfortunately unable to be present and his place as inspecting officer was taken by Lieutenant-Colonel H.S.C. Richardson, D.L. With him was Colonel R. Clifford. The Chairman was Rev. A.J. Jenkins, chaplain to the company.

Transfer - Head Constable Thornton, R.U.C., Enniskillen, has been transferred, temporarily, to Belfast.

Corncrake - The Corncrake was heard near Enniskillen on Friday morning last.

Cuckoo - Mr. M. Murray, Legnakelly, Clones, heard the cuckoo at Coraghy on Saturday.

Promoted - M.A.P. - I learn that Mr. Wm. J. Harvey, only son of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Harvey, Lisbellaw, who has been for the past two years in the Engineer’s Office, in Victoria Barracks, Belfast, has been promoted to the post of Surveyor.

Dr. David Duff - Things in General - Mr. John West of Rossahilly, Enniskillen, has purchased Silverhill House, which is situated half a mile beyond the west end of the town. There was a rumour that the new tenant of Silverhill would be Mr. West’s brother-in-law, Dr. David Duff, but this is not correct. Dr. Duff will probably reside in London on his return from the Gold Coast following his resignation of the post of Director of Medical Services. He has served 30 years on the Gold Coast and at the last meeting of the Legislative Council, the Governor paid a great tribute to the work of Dr. Duff and the many reforms he carried out in that area.

Fermanagh R.U.C. Digging for Victory - Tillage has become very popular amongst the R.U.C. at various stations in Fermanagh and Newtownbutler police are no exception. Sergeant J.W. Hamilton and Constable James Glassey have rented a large field near Newtownbutler, where most of their off duty is spent tilling the land. Other members have not taken up tillage enthusiastically.

Clones Parochial Social - A parochial social in connection with Clones Parish Church was held on Tuesday. There was a very large attendance and the occasion was to mark the departure of the curate, Rev. H.J. Packham for Tralee.

Pictured in The Impartial Reporter, 50 years ago, are Arthur Gilroy, Lisbellaw, who is 62, and his assistant, John McPhillips, aged 19, of Drumod, Lisbellaw. The photo caption - from the edition dated April 22, 1965 - records they are seen here warping the yarn.

(See report in the Looking Back column below).

Also pictured are Thomas Lindsay (on right) and William Beatty of Kilmore North, Maguiresbridge, examining the tweed at it comes from the shrinking machine. The Impartial Reporter, April 22, 1965.

25 YEARS AGO - April 26, 1990: Hosting the all-Ireland sheepdog trials - Fermanagh is to host the all-Ireland sheepdog trials this summer for the first time. The Irish National Trial is to take place at Pettigo in July. Organised by the International Sheepdog Society based in Bedford, it is one of the four national events to select winners from the home countries to compete in the International later in the year. The task of hosting this major event goes to Pettigo Sheep Dog Society, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1987. Its committee will be making the final arrangements for the event on John Aiken’s farm at Springtown, outside Pettigo.

Why Florence is to spend summer in the wilderness - A geography student from Fermanagh is spending the summer in the Arctic wilderness on a scientific and environmental expedition. Florence Elliott, Lisbofin House, Letterbreen, and 23 of her fellow undergraduates from Sheffield University are travelling to the Bersaerkerbrae Glacier in an uninhabited part of Greenland. The 12 geography and 12 engineering students will be establishing a base camp for future expeditions to this environmentally sensitive area.

Gardeners put on a fine display - Fermanagh Gardening Society celebrated the 25th Daffodil and Spring Flower Show, with the biggest entry and best attendance for years. The Show in Fermanagh College of Further Education, displayed the best in many varieties of daffodils grown by exhibitors throughout Northern Ireland and a fine display of Spring flowers and plants by local gardeners.

Flower-power pays off - Rosslea student Olivia McMahon put flower-power to the test and scooped one of the top prizes in a painting competition. She collected the J.A. Knaggs Shield for the best painting in the Under-18 years section of the Fermanagh Gardening Society’s 25th annual daffodil and spring flower show, held at Fermanagh College of Further Education last Saturday. The shield was one of the new awards presented for painting at the show.

Johanna’s concert is last in lunchtime series - The final “Young Musicians at Lunchtime Concert” of the season will take place next Thursday, May 3, in Enniskillen Library. The young musician will be Johanna Forbes, who will play the viola and piano. Johanna has recently won the Impartial Reporter Bursary at the Fermanagh Feis. An interesting and varied programme has been put together for this concert. There was a large audience for the last concert.

50 YEARS AGO - April 22, 1965: New Organ in Ardess Church - When the pleasing tones of the new pipe organ sounded in Ardess Church, near Kesh, on Easter Sunday afternoon it marked the culmination of ten years of effort by the Rector and congregation of Magherculmoney Parish. The organ was dedicated by the Bishop of Clogher, Rt. Rev. Alan Buchanan, D.D., at a special service in the presence of a congregation of 350, which included many visitors from neighbouring parishes and various parts of the Diocese. The service was conducted by the rector, Rev. R.J. Doonan, and the Lessons were read by Rev. E.N. Rowe, rector of Colaghty Parish. During the service the organ was played by Mr. Anthony Smith, F.R.C.O., the organist of St. Macartin’s Cathedral.

Ballinamallard R.U.C. Presentation - At a pleasant dinner party in the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas, last week, officers and men of the R.U.C. in the Kesh district said farewell to Sergeant Charles Blair, of Ballinamallard, and gifts were presented to him and his wife. Sergeant Blair has retired after 32 years in the R.U.C., 26 of which were spent in County Fermanagh, in stations at Newtownbutler, Belcoo, Lack and Ballinamallard, where he has been for the past 12 years.

Outdoor Bowling in Enniskillen - Now that the indoor bowling season is drawing to a close all bowlers will, no doubt, be hoping for favourable weather for the opening of the new green at Enniskillen on 1st May.

Fivemiletown Violinist’s Success - At Sligo Feis Ceoil on Tuesday, Miss Heather McKeown, Fivemiletown, won the Kitsy Franklin Cup for violin playing.

Personal - Miss Joan Trimble, Mus.B., will be an adjudicator at the forthcoming Dublin Feis Ceoil.

Lisbellaw Mill to Close - photo caption - Arthur Gilroy, Lisbellaw, who is 62, and his assistant, John McPhillips, aged 19, of Drumod, Lisbellaw, are seen here warping the yarn. Mr. Gilroy completed 48 years with Henderson & Eadie last September. He joined the firm in 1916 when he was 13 years old. At that time work commenced at 6 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. - a 55 and a half hour week. “I found the Hendersons and Eadies very good employers,” Mr. Gilroy said. “There was always very good relations with the workers. I was very happy here.” John McPhillips, who has been in the mill for five years, also liked the work and will be sorry to leave.

75 YEARS AGO - April 25, 1940: Enniskillen B.B. Display - The 4th annual display of the 1st Enniskillen Company of the Boys’ Brigade and Life Boys’ Team was staged in the Guild Hall, Enniskillen, on Friday evening last. This year the proceeds were devoted to the Enniskillen branch of Ulster War Hospitals Supply Depot and there was a very large audience, which greatly appreciated the various items. The Earl of Erne was unfortunately unable to be present and his place as inspecting officer was taken by Lieutenant-Colonel H.S.C. Richardson, D.L. With him was Colonel R. Clifford. The Chairman was Rev. A.J. Jenkins, chaplain to the company.

Transfer - Head Constable Thornton, R.U.C., Enniskillen, has been transferred, temporarily, to Belfast.

Corncrake - The Corncrake was heard near Enniskillen on Friday morning last.

Cuckoo - Mr. M. Murray, Legnakelly, Clones, heard the cuckoo at Coraghy on Saturday.

Promoted - M.A.P. - I learn that Mr. Wm. J. Harvey, only son of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Harvey, Lisbellaw, who has been for the past two years in the Engineer’s Office, in Victoria Barracks, Belfast, has been promoted to the post of Surveyor.

Dr. David Duff - Things in General - Mr. John West of Rossahilly, Enniskillen, has purchased Silverhill House, which is situated half a mile beyond the west end of the town. There was a rumour that the new tenant of Silverhill would be Mr. West’s brother-in-law, Dr. David Duff, but this is not correct. Dr. Duff will probably reside in London on his return from the Gold Coast following his resignation of the post of Director of Medical Services. He has served 30 years on the Gold Coast and at the last meeting of the Legislative Council, the Governor paid a great tribute to the work of Dr. Duff and the many reforms he carried out in that area.

Fermanagh R.U.C. Digging for Victory - Tillage has become very popular amongst the R.U.C. at various stations in Fermanagh and Newtownbutler police are no exception. Sergeant J.W. Hamilton and Constable James Glassey have rented a large field near Newtownbutler, where most of their off duty is spent tilling the land. Other members have not taken up tillage enthusiastically.

Clones Parochial Social - A parochial social in connection with Clones Parish Church was held on Tuesday. There was a very large attendance and the occasion was to mark the departure of the curate, Rev. H.J. Packham for Tralee.