The New Year brought exciting news for Roisin Smyth, from Enniskillen, who was recently informed of her appointment as Sheriff for County Fermanagh 2016.
A familiar face at Devenish Partnership Forum, where she previously served as manager for eight and a half years, she is a daughter of the late Sean and Mary McCusker from Cornagrade, Enniskillen. Married to Barry Smyth, they have two sons, Niall (six) and Donal (four).
Roisin attended St. Fanchea’s Secondary School, Enniskillen, and Fermanagh College. She went on to Belfast Institute - College of Business and completed her Business Studies Degree in Griffith College, Dublin.
After finishing her degree, she worked in Translink Head Office in the Finance Department for three and half years. Then in 2001, she took a career break and went travelling for a year and then returned home to Enniskillen and decided that she wanted to remain in Fermanagh.
Roisin worked in Fermanagh College for one year, working in the admin. office, and then worked on funded community projects.
In 2003, she started working in Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership as the finance and monitoring officer, working with community projects which had been awarded funding.
She was the Manager of Devenish Partnership for eight and half years up to the end of June 2015, which she explained is “a community development organisation working at grass roots with the community.” She described this as “a wonderful opportunity as I was able to work within my own community where I am from.”
Roisin mentioned that she started volunteering in her local community association when she returned to Enniskillen as she believes that when you live in a community “it is important to engage and support your local area.”
She has volunteered with Make A Wish Foundation since 2003 and says she has found this to be “very rewarding as you get to meet wonderful children and to be part of the process which will hopefully be a step closer to a child’s wish coming through.”
Roisin started volunteering in 2015 with Project St. Patrick. “I have admired the commitment of the small group of volunteers who have given their time voluntary over the last six years to ensure that there is a Parade on St. Patrick's Day in Enniskillen and I am delighted to be part of the committee this year,” she said.
In conclusion, Roisin admits that she doesn’t know “what the year ahead will entail” but she looks forward “to finding out more in the weeks ahead.”