There were many winners at this week’s Community Achievement Awards organised by Fermanagh Rural Community Network in Lakeland Community Care in Belcoo.
Groups and individuals who have made a difference to their communities throughout the county were recognised at the 16th annual awards held to coincide with the Network’s annual meeting.
Winners were announced in the two categories to which a number of high quality nominations had been submitted demonstrating the extensive level of community-based activity that is taking place throughout rural Fermanagh. 
In the Local Community Activity category, the joint winners were Little Treasures Playgroup, Kinawley and Cleenish Community Association/Killesher Community Development Association for their Battles, Bricks and Bridges Project.
Little Treasures Playgroup has been in existence for over 28 years providing an essential service within their local community. As well as providing the core playgroup activities, in the past two years they have secured funding to provide courses and workshops for parents and carers on topics such as Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Speech and Language and Mental Health First Aid.
The Battles, Bricks and Bridges project centred on a researching and locating the site of the historic Battle of the Ford of Biscuits, recreating the art of brick making and repairing and upgrading the historic Arney Bridge.
Certificates of Recognition were presented to a number of other organisations including Ardess Community Association, Men’s Shed, Belcoo;
Magheraveely Community Development Association, Church Hill Ladies Running Club and ‘Toddle Tots’, Killesher Community Development. Association.
Individuals who have made a difference in their communities were also recognised at the event on Monday night.
In this category, the nominations demonstrated that there are a great number of people contributing significant amounts of voluntary effort to make a difference in their local communities.  
A spokesman for FRCN said the judges had a tough task selecting a winner from all those nominated individuals whose positive contribution to the rural communities of County Fermanagh deserved recognition.
This was the sixth year in which Fermanagh Rural Community Network presented a cup commissioned in memory of one of their founding members, Gabriel D’Arcy who passed away in October 2011. Gabriel’s family were represented by his son Gerald, who presented the cup to the overall winner, Alan Crawford from Kesh. 
Alan was nominated by his local community in recognition of his work with the youth within Kesh and surrounding area for over 20 years. The citation stated: “Alan is present at the Fountain Centre Youth Club every Friday night without fail from 7pm to 11pm” and he is also involved in providing an afterschool club in the local primary school one evening per week. 
All of this is done on a voluntary basis and it was stated that Alan has encouraged many others to get involved in youth work and ensure that provision of youth activities has been sustained over a long number of years.
In the nomination it was stated that Alan’s tireless efforts of getting to know and work with local youth has been a very positive influence on their lives and led to many off them getting actively involved in their community.
Certificates of Recognition were presented to: Caroline Greene, Derrygonelly; Brian and Sean Gunn, Aughakillymaude Community Association; May McLoughlin, Boho Heritage Association; Margaret Callaghan, Rosslea Community Centre Association; Margaret Gallagher, Lakeland Community Care;
Mona McGrath, Boho Community Association; Leslie Dunn, Boho Community Association; Mary Burke, Teemore Women’s Group and Margaret Corrigan, Boho Community Association.
The election of office-bearers returned Louise McLaughlin as Chairman of Fermanagh Rural Community Network for a further year.
Louise had earlier welcomed more than 80 people to the event.
Pat McGurn, of Lakeland Community Care hosting the event, outlined the work of his organisation, the development of the Healthy Living Centre and the services that are delivered from and take place within this recently constructed building.
Barry Boyle, Network Co-ordinator, gave an overview of the activities of Fermanagh Rural Community Network over the past year to provide practical and timely developmental support and advice for groups throughout County Fermanagh with core work focused on delivery of the “Rural Community Development Support Service” on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
The Guest Speaker, Malcolm Beatty, Chief Executive of Forest Service gave an informative presentation on the work of the Forest Service and stated that his organisation wished to develop partnerships with others to use the forest estate to improve visitor services, environmental quality and economic development.  
He outlined that over £50 million is contributed annually to the local economy of County Fermanagh through direct and indirect uses the forest estate.
Fermanagh Rural Community Network Board members and staff thanked all those who attended the event, the Guest Speaker, Malcolm Beatty of the Forest Service, and Lakeland Community Care for hosting the event.