“IN a world of high-tech, super-fast social media, it’s nice to slow things down Fermanagh-style and to pause and to look back at things that are now simply memories.”

So says Benny Cassidy, when asked to explain the incredible popularity of his ‘Old Enniskillen’ Facebook page since it was set up just over a year ago.

Describing himself as a “true townie”, in that he was born between the bridges of the island town, Benny grew up with his family in Abbey Street, one of the old streets located at the rear of the town close to where the library and car parks are located today.

He said: “I have lived and worked all my life in Enniskillen and have a great love and pride for all things related to Enniskillen.”

An avid collector of old photographs and postcards of Enniskillen and its people, Benny noticed the positive response he was getting when he posted these up on Facebook from time to time.

On February 11, 2016, he decided to create a community page called ‘Old Enniskillen’ on the popular social networking website.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I logged on later that day and saw that there were 289 members within an hour or so on my new page,” he admitted.

The page currently has 14, 675 members scattered across the globe, with members in 49 countries - including as far away as New Zealand!

“Old Enniskillen has a weekly average of 96,000 engagements with posts, ie. liking, sharing or commenting, and the highest figure recorded for a post reaching others was a photo of the Vintage Bar which was viewed by a staggering 253,000 people,” Benny revealed.

Members come from all ages and backgrounds, all religions and none, and the page doesn’t get involved in anything “remotely political”.

“It’s all good-humoured and the contributions assist in a wide understanding. I suppose, in many ways, that is the very essence and intention of the page as it’s about our not-so-young passing on the memories of our town to the next generations,” Benny said.

Interest in the page has blossomed over the last 12 months and it is now being used in local schools as well as healthcare settings for the elderly, in particular the ‘then and now’ photographs.

While it takes up a “huge amount” of his personal time, Benny said it was “extremely rewarding” to do and praised the contribution from the members around the world.

“I love the page myself and feel very lucky and privileged to be in a position to be entrusted with providing a conduit for those that have precious photos to share and stories to tell.

“The support of the local community, and indeed those from across the globe, is vital,” he added.

To mark the first anniversary of the community page, a special event was held in Fermanagh House as part of the Project St. Patrick festival.

Benny said he was delighted to showcase ‘Old Enniskillen’ to a packed house of “very enthused folks”.

Also taking part in the event, which highlighted the ‘human side’ of Enniskillen, were Marian Haggins and Stephen Kettyles, of the Lakeland Players, and Feargal Shannon, chairman of Project St. Patrick.

Ending the night was Frankie Roofe, who for many years worked as the Enniskillen Townhall Superintendent, and delighted the audience with his spellbinding storytelling.

The event was organized by Jim Ledwith, a researcher for the Young Foundation, which is carrying out ethnographic research in north Enniskillen.

To visit the Old Enniskillen Facebook page, click here.