This photograph (believed to have been taken around the 1950s) shows two young Maguiresbridge men - Hugh and Bartley Downey - on one of their many visits to Drumlone, Lisbellaw, which was their homeplace. The picture was kindly submitted by Noel Downey of Maguiresbridge, whose father Hugh Downey is pictured on the left. Noel points out that sadly Bartley (his father’s brother) is no longer with us.

25 YEARS AGO - July 27, 1989: Festival is a real winner with the spectators - The organisers of the “Lady of the Lake” festival certainly picked a winner with their decision on a pig derby as one of the main events in this year’s 10-day festival. The race attracted hundreds of spectators to the main street where the event was run. But it wasn’t the only success for the organising committee. The parachute display, the donkey derby and the fancy dress were all huge attractions during the festival which was drenched in sunshine throughout.

Marching bands pipe the sweet sound of music - Pipers from all over the Province converged on Enniskillen on Saturday for the Fermanagh Pipe Band Championships. The bandsmen had perfect weather, slightly dull with no wind and the organisers were pleased with the turnout. Hundreds of spectators gathered at Celtic Park to watch the marching bands piping sweet tunes for three or more hours. They had a chance to see several all-Ireland champions including Field Marshall Montgomery from Belfast.

Exhibitors travel to the Clogher Valley to compete for new cups - Livestock exhibitors from throughout Ireland travelled to the Clogher Valley yesterday (Wednesday) for the 72nd annual show. This year, several new cups and trophies were awarded in the various sections covering livestock, arts and crafts and schoolchildren’s classes. Despite the prolonged dry spell, Clogher Show did not completely miss the few showers breaking out. But the rain which fell during the past few days was welcomed by the farming community. Some of the livestock breeders travelled from as far as Cork for the Aberdeen Angus championship, while Clogher Show gave the opportunity to local breeders to win through to several of the major championships in the Republic later this year, Gerry on the Erne - The popular B.B.C. broadcaster, Gerry Anderson, is spending all of next week doing his morning programme live from a cruiser on Lough Erne, starting at 10.30 a.m. each week day on Radio Ulster. This is the first time that Gerry has taken the programme afloat. In the past his bus trips around the Province have become a legend. During a visit to Enniskillen on Saturday to make arrangements, Gerry admitted: “I’ve never been on a cruiser before.” During the week he will be meeting visitors on hire cruisers, stopping at places along the shores, including Castle Archdale, and calling at islands.

50 YEARS AGO - July 30, 1964: Ready for Take-off - It took 6 months and £130 for Mr. Edward McConville to design and build “Mayfly,” the radio-controlled model aircraft he brought back from England a week ago to his home at Rosslea. Quite a job for some - but not for the much-travelled Mr. McConville, who once worked at an airport in North Tasmania, for he has been a model-maker since his teens. At the age of 15 or 16, he said last week-end, he used to make toys of all descriptions - gliders, boats, horses - but this is the biggest venture so far for the 37-year-old plane-maker.

Irvinestown Plans - Big Shopping Week in December - A committee of Irvinestown Chamber of Commerce met on 21st July and decided to recommend the following projects; some of which were reported in last week’s issue of the “Impartial Reporter.” A shopping week from 4th till 12th December, with a well-known personality to declare it open; to ask for the co-operation of the Women’s Institute, and of local schools (Arts and Crafts Display); to provide shopping incentives; to seek food demonstrations from the manufacturers; to have a special Chamber of Commerce display window of goods of local manufacture; to recommend presentation of cups to the local Mart for pigs and cattle at their Christmas show; and to ask that the Christmas tree Lighting Ceremony should take place during the week.

Pettigo Orange Dance - On Friday night an enjoyable teenagers’ dance was held in Pettigo Orange Hall, at which the attendance was a record, as the modern style dancing brought many teenagers from the adjoining counties. The Pettigo teenagers who sponsored the dance, saw to the comfort of all their patrons.

Industrial Archaeology Survey - At Derrykeeghan Mill, Woaghternerry, a few miles from Enniskillen, Dr. W.A. McCutcheon looks at the old kiln and the remains of the water wheel. During the next four weeks he will be visiting and recording a variety of industrial sites in Fermanagh, in the course of a survey for the Ministry of Finance. He is interested in corn mills and kilns, scutch mills, spade mills, potteries, brickfields, breweries, distilleries, and remnants of the woollen and linen or cotton industries. As well as mill buildings, he is interested in a variety of mill machinery and the application of water and steam power to industrial purposes. This is a continuation of the survey of communications (roads, road bridges, canals and railways), carried out by Dr. McCutcheon last year.

New Governor to be Named - The appointment of a new Northern Ireland Governor to succeed Lord Wakehurst, who will retire in December, may be announced within a fortnight.

75 YEARS AGO - July 27, 1939: Things in General - The ‘Rev. Lance,’ R.N. - Rev. Launcelot MacManaway, only son of the Very Rev. the Dean of Clogher, has attained one of his ambitions - he has been appointed a chaplain to the Royal Navy, and is now stationed at Portsmouth.

Fermanagh School Gardens - Result of the Competition - No fewer than ten schools entered this year for the school gardens competition organised by the Fermanagh Farming Society in connection with Enniskillen Show, fixed for August 30. Gardens were inspected on July 17 and the following are the points gained by each school : - Littlemount 87 marks; Magheraveely 83; Lisbellaw 80; Cornahilta 80; Belcoo 78; Derrygonnelly (Mill) 78; Stonepark 77; Derryharney 74; Shanmullagh 70; Muleek 69. Mr. D. MacKenzie, the judge, in his remarks said that in spite of the continued drought of May and June, and the severe weather of early spring, the quality of the vegetables, fruit and flowers were excellent.

Home after 47 Years - Mr. Henry Smyth, who was born at Limebanks, Newtownbutler, has returned to his native district on a holiday after an absence of 47 years in America. He is staying at the residence of his cousin, Mr. William Gray, Clonagun. Mr. Smyth, who holds a responsible position, in Chicago emigrated to America in 1891 at the age of 15 years. He commented on the decline in population and upon the many vacant houses, but otherwise, he says, the old country is looking her best.

Lyte’s Portrait at Portora - The singing of the beautiful hymn ‘Abide With Me’ rang through the Remembrance Hall at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, on Friday afternoon, when tribute was paid to the memory of the great hymnologist, Rev. Henry Francis Lyte. The occasion was the unveiling of a portrait of Lyte, who had spent six years at Portora. The painting is the work of M. Rene Thuyns, a Belgian artist, now resident at Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh, who has been making several sketches of the school recently.

The chair was occupied by the Bishop of Clogher, Right Rev. James MacManaway, D.D., chairman of the Board of Governors, and accompanying him were Mr. W. Copeland Trimble, J.P., senior member of the Board of Governors, who unveiled the painting, and Mr. Thuyns.

Athletics - Three new records were set up in the heats of the Portora sports. In the putting the shot N.W. Dorrity accomplished a distance of 33ft. 8ins. W.S. Macready-Bryan jumped 20ft. 10ins. in the long jump and ran the 120 yards hurdles in a fraction under 16 seconds.