Show judge notches up 50 years in school craft classes

Lily Dane • Published 5 Aug 2010 16:30 0 Comments

Share this

click to enlarge
Bried Britton, Pettigo, judging the craft classes at Fermanagh County Show for the past 50 years, receiving a gift to mark the occasion from Lord Anthony Hamilton, show chairman. Looking on are Marion Henderson, chief steward in the school children section and Maeve Keys, who has helped her mother with the judging for the past 15 years.<

As Fermanagh Farming Society celebrated 175 years at the 2010 County Show in Enniskillen this week, the special anniversary was one of a number of significant milestones marked during this year's successful two day event.

One of the show's longest serving judges, Bried Britton, of Pettigo - who shares her wealth of experience in the needlework and craft classes in the schools' section - marked an association spanning 50 years.

A retired home economics teacher, the well-known Pettigo woman taught part-time at St. Mary's College, Irvinestown, from 1961 until 1994.

Originally from Mullingar, she took her first teaching post in Co. Donegal, which she continued until her marriage to well-known Pettigo publican, the late John Britton (who passed away in 1993). She made her home in the border village, where she and John raised a family of six - James, Pat, Maeve, Aiden, Fiona and Trina.

It was after a four year break from teaching that she returned to the profession and took up her position at St. Mary's in Irvinestown, where she was involved in teaching textiles - having done cookery and textiles in college.

For many years, she also enjoyed working in the family bar, which is currently run by her son Pat and daughter Trina, while she remains in the background,

Such was her interest in needlework that she started successful patchwork classes in St. Mary's and at Bannagh, which she ran for about 20 years.

In August 1961, she was asked to act as a judge in the crafts section at the County Show and has done so ever since. She only missed one year when she was due to have her youngest daughter Trina.

She loves judging at the event and explains that when she first started off, she worked alongside Mrs. Rowe from Lack - and continued on her own following Mrs. Rowe's retirement.

She praises the schoolchildren who put a lot of work into their entries and believes the high standard of the work has been maintained over the years. She greatly admires the exhibits and speaks of the "wonderful variety". "The teachers deserve great credit," says Bried, in reference to the work they are doing with the pupils, and she acknowledges the schools' continued support.

Having served as a judge at the popular County Show over a period of five decades, the long serving figure also served as a judge at Ballyshannon Show.

On completing her judging in Enniskillen showgrounds (on Tuesday afternoon), she always likes to have a look around the other sections and this year was no exception. Of particular interest to her are the flowers and home baking sections which are located in the same hall as her section.

"It is an excellent show," believes Bried, who enjoys meeting the other judges and loves participating in the annual event - which has seen her cast her expert eye over the talented work of generations of the county's schoolchildren.

Full show coverage pages 12-17.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 05 Aug 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.