Approximately 80 people gathered at a public meeting in Irvinestown last Thursday calling for Necarne Estate to be handed over to the local community.
Campaign group ‘Saving Necarne’ have now launched an online petition calling for local Councillors to “save Necarne from our Council’s private process.” They will also distribute posters stating: “Put our community needs before private profit” and will apply for rights of way at the historic site.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) has said it is “considering” the request for a Public Right of Way at Necarne but has “no discretion and cannot now decide to give any consideration to any other proposals” that are being suggested after the deadline, which was six weeks ago.

Read: Necarne Estate, Irvinestown: six bidders submit expressions of interest
The meeting was addressed by seven speakers, who discussed the idea of Necarne being operated as a Community Trust; said it could be used as a base for collaboration between health, sport, equine, education and recreation; or as a unique activity and tourist hub for county Fermanagh; or as a cross border facility for hippotherapy. Locals also voiced their desire for national and international equine competitions to be reinstated at Necarne.
FODC is currently in the process of assessing six expressions of interest that have been submitted for a new 25 year lease at the site. Necarne is currently leased to the Department for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (formerly DARD), which no longer has any use for the site. FODC has said it cannot enter into new dialogue about Necarne because the current process with the six bidders in ongoing and to do so would “clearly” leave the Council “at risk of potential litigation.”
A spokesman said the Council will only enter into “fresh dialogue” if it does not enter into an agreement with any of the six interested parties.
Local mental health nurse Janet Dodds sent a video message to the meeting, saying: “The Fermanagh and wider community deserve the freedom within Necarne to plan an exciting, dynamic health and well-being centre.”
Economist Donal O’Cofaigh called for the Council to “terminate the current tender process as it is grounded on financial concerns to the detriment of built heritage and community utilisation.”

Read: Necarne: protest seeks sustainable future

Following the meeting, graffiti was spray painted on the walls of Necarne, stating: “Phone FDC to save Necarne.” 


In response, the campaign group said “it is unhelpful and even damaging to our campaign for anyone to break the law or act inappropriately.”