July 16, 1964: Fifty years ago and the pupils of Mullaghmeen Primary School, between Enniskillen and Ballinamallard, are pictured on their last day at the school. Included are some former pupils who returned for the farewell party which marking the closing of the school on Friday.

25 Years Ago - July 20, 1989: Less than 40 days water left - Fermanagh has less than 40 days’ supply of water left and the situation in the Clogher Valley is even more critical. Ironically the county with more lakes and rivers than any other in Northern Ireland is faring worst in the present drought. Mr. James Harvey, the Department of Environment Water Service’s sub-divisional engineer, is appealing to people to try and save as much water as possible and admitted that rationing is being considered. “Our stocks are low and getting lower every day,” he stated. He would not say just how serious the problem had become but agreed that Fermanagh was in a worse position than those areas supplied by Spelga dam in the Mourne mountains, the Province’s largest reservoir, which has less than enough water for the next six weeks.

Sun shines on ‘Lady of the Lake’ - The sun certainly shone for the opening of this year’s Lady of the Lake festival. The 11th Irvinestown carnival, now one of Northern Ireland’s premier festivals got off to a tremendous start as the sun set over the north Fermanagh town. A huge crowd lined the town’s main street for the official opening and greet the new “Lady of the Lake.” Rosaline tells her fairy story - It was like every good fairy story. There was a white horse, a carriage and a beautiful girl; her face shrouded in black. Only when Mae McFetridge, who would have made an excellent “Widow Twanky,” lifted the veil did this year’s Lady of the Lake sparkle in the sunshine. For 24-year-old Rosaline McElholm of Townhall Park in Irvinestown it was a ball, and a break from her job as a textile designer with Welch Margetson in Magherafelt. However, the Lady of the Lake kept well to the sideline last night (Wednesday) for the pig derby.

President’s final duty - photo caption - The out-going President of Enniskillen Rotary Club, Arthur Steele, performing his last duty before retiring from the club - presenting the Sean Gilmartin Cup to Rotarian Ivan Kee, voted the member doing most for the club during the past year.

Guides ‘coming along very well’ - Girl guides in Ulster are “coming along very well indeed” according to the Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guide Association, Dr. June Paterson-Brown, who visited Fermanagh last Tuesday. The Chief Commissioner was in the Province for three days to “see how guiding is getting along and give encouragement to guides and brownies,” and they are hoping that the publicity will encourage more adults to join up as leaders. There are young girls queuing up to join but at present there are not enough leaders.

50 Years Ago - July 16, 1964: Fivemiletown Methodist Circuit - Rev. Robert Bradford has taken up duties in the Fivemiletown Methodist Circuit as senior minister. He succeeds Rev. Winston Graham who has gone to the Irvinestown Circuit for six weeks, following which he will enter Edgehill College, Belfast.

In Father’s Footsteps - MAP - The people of Brookeborough are delighted that Desmond Kingston, the elder son of their rector, Canon Richard Kingston and Mrs. Kingston, has been ordained in St. Mark’s Parish Church, Armagh, and countless messages of good wishes and congratulations have been arriving at Aghavea rectory. Desmond was educated at Portora Royal School and graduated last year at Trinity College, Dublin. He has now been appointed curate of St. Mark’s, Armagh.

Rossnowlagh - A Happy Gathering - Changes have come to Rossnowlagh. An improved roadway, new parking places for caravans, new tea-shops, new bungalows, but like the laws of Medes and Persians, the character of the annual Orange parade changeth not. Monday, 13th, was a gloriously fine sunny day, a bit gusty, but nevertheless very pleasant, and a large concourse of Orangemen and their sympathisers gathered at Rossnowlagh, the favourite South Donegal seaside resort to remember “The Twelfth.” This is the only Orange open air celebration of the Boyne anniversary that takes place in Eire. Present were eight bands and 18 lodges.

60 Bands at Brookeborough - Brookeborough celebrated the Battle of the Boyne with the “battle of the breeze” as marchers struggled to keep their wind-blown banners under control. In Fermanagh the “Twelfth” is an all-Ireland one, and each year hundreds of Orangemen and women from the neighbouring counties of Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim, cross the Border to take pride of place in the celebrations.

Postman Retires - MAP - Mr. Sammy Priestly, of Sandy-row, Fivemiletown, has retired after completing over 33 years as a postman on the staff of Fivemiletown Post Office. He has always delivered the letters in town and country on foot, walking 100 miles per week to do so.

Sister Magella - MAP - Another student from the Lisnaskea area who has brought credit to her family is Marie McCarron, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tommie McCarron, of Donagh, between Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler. As Sister Mary Magella, she qualified in chemistry at Cork University and is going shortly on an overseas mission to Nigeria, where she will study botany.

75 Years Ago - July 20, 1939: MAP - The Tallest and the Biggest - As I watched the Orange procession in Enniskillen on 12th inst., I could not miss the tallest Orangemen taking part, Mr. Wm. Henry Patterson, of Mount Prospect, Derrylin. He stands 6ft. 7ins. Now, who was the biggest man in the procession? Tievemore band claims to have the biggest bandsman in the person of their big drummer who weighs seventeen stone! Can anyone beat either of these records?

Portora Boys as Farmers - What They Have Achieved - Portora boys as their contribution to National Service, are at present elaborating a scheme whereby, working in groups under selected leaders, they aim at providing the school with most of the vegetables required. Recently three boys - Basil Kelly (Donegal), Eric Ronaldson (Meath), and Hugh M’Mullen (Cork) working at odd moments on a waste piece of ground, once occupied by the old carpenter’s shop, produced 19 stone of potatoes! Throughout the term many other boys have been working hard on their plots, but the largest crop was produced by these three boys.

Note These Dates - United Orange Service at Clabby, Sunday, 23rd inst. Picnic at Ballindarragh, Wed. 26th inst., Portora sports, Thursday 27th inst., Flannel dance at Lisnaskea, Friday, 28th inst. Orange dance at Tubrid, Friday, 4th August.

The Storm - Widespread damage was caused by lightning during thunder storms on Monday over many parts of England and in districts along the Irish border. A number of persons were struck, three being detained in hospital.

In Fermanagh - The storm in Fermanagh took place on Thursday. Heavy rain fell in places and roads were blocked. The road almost opposite Gloucester House, Enniskillen, was flooded for some hours and motor cars had to crawl through the water which reached the axles. Fermanagh, however escaped as usual the great severity of the storm which lasted the week-end. A new rectory at Kesh, in County Fermanagh, was badly damaged. A cow, the property of Mr. Joseph Abraham, Magheracross, Ballinamallard, was killed by lightning.

Swimming - Portora R.S. v. Campbell College - In an inter-school swimming contest at Enniskillen, on Friday, Portora Royal School defeated Campbell College, Belfast, by 31 points to 29.

On Trek - Methodist ministers were on ‘trek’ during last week to their new Circuits. Rev. William Bryans, after spending five successful years on the Newtownbutler Circuit left, on Thursday, for Monaghan across the Border.