Those were the days: Brother and sister begin to paint a brighter picture

25 YEARS AGO - Sept 7, 1989: Historic opening day for integrated school - Happy parents show a symbol of hope to the world - One holiday on the school calendar acknowledges the difference of Enniskillen Integrated Primary School from other schools in Fermanagh. It will be celebrating United Nations Peace Day when other schools will not. The interim Board of Governors of Fermanagh’s newest school say that Peace Day is in keeping with the ethos of the school. It is one of the many differences found in the new school at Drumcoo which is educating children of all religions together. This week there are Protestant and Roman Catholics sitting side by side at their brightly coloured desks. Later they will be joined by Hare Krishnas and followers of the Bahai’ Faith. The historic day for the Integrated School came on Friday last. As well as marking a new month, it marked a new era in the educational system of a divided society. At a welcoming ceremony for the parents of children attending the school, an emotional John Maxwell, one of the founders and Chairman of the Board of Governors, said, “This is one of the most important days of my life. It is more important than if we were Protestant and Catholic or whatever. It is a symbol which we can show to the rest of the world.” Official Proof that Bawnacre is best! - The Bawnacre Leisure Centre in Irvinestown is the best “value for money” sports complex in Northern Ireland, according to a Local Government Audit. The £600,000 facility was opened in 1974 and the Auditor’s report found that it was the most economic, efficient and effective of the 80 leisure centres in Northern Ireland. Fermanagh District Council, which jointly finances the complex with the Western Education and Library Board, has congratulated the Bawnacre’s manager, Mr. George Beacom, and his staff on their dedicated work for the community. The Council’s amenity committee has also considered proposals for developing the centre with the provision of additional facilities.

Ceili band wins all Ireland title - The 1989 all-Ireland Fleadh held in Sligo will be a memorable event for a local ceili band. The band, taught by Sean Nugent, were crowned all-Ireland champions, and are greatly honoured to be the first Ulster band to win the Crotty Cup. This coveted trophy which dates back to 1960 has engraved on it the names of many famous ceili bands from places as far apart as New York, Liverpool, Manchester and various places in the Republic.

The members of the band all belong to Irvinestown branch of Comhaltas, namely Niall McCann, Collette McKeown, Ciara McElholm, Aiden Gormley, Brenda McCann, Shane McAleer, Paula Gunn, Annette Owens, Donna Starr, and are pictured with Sean Nugent (their teacher) and Ann McCann (secretary Irvinestown Comhaltas).

When War Started - MAP - The 50th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, now being featured extensively on T.V. and in the newspapers, brings memories flooding back. Even rural Fermanagh, far removed from the battlefields of France, quickly felt the effect. The black-out regulations were strictly enforced by the police and a few careless householders were brought to court. Petrol rationing quickly reduced the number of private cars, few as there might have been at the time. All the road signs were taken down as a precaution against invasion by German paratroopers. But the main fear, I can remember, was of aeroplanes releasing poison gas. We were all issued gasmasks and warned to take them everywhere.

50 YEARS AGO - Sept 3, 1984: Clones Show - A Record Entry - A number of records were broken at Clones Agricultural Show, held in brilliant sunshine in the usual “astride the Border” field between the Northern Ireland and Eire Customs Posts on Tuesday. This year the number of entries reached the all-time record of 1,200, the biggest increase being in the cattle section, where the number of animals reached 120. Many of the top riders in Ireland competed in the horse jumping programme which was held in the afternoon under ideal conditions for both competitors and spectators. A number of the principal awards in the cattle sections were carried off by exhibitors from Co. Fermanagh and neighbouring districts of Co. Tyrone.

Fermanagh Priest Dies in US - The death has taken place in St. John’s Hospital, Slyna, Kansas, U.S.A., of Right Rev. Monsignor John Francis McManus, a retired pastor of Kansas, and a native of Rossculban, Kesh, Co. Fermanagh.

To Swim Across Lower Lough Erne - International swimmer John Walshe takes to the water in Co. Fermanagh on Sunday for the first-ever swim across the widest part of Lough Erne, between Kesh and Magho, a distance of almost 6 and a half miles. Twenty-eight-year-old Walshe, of Wolfe Tone Street, Cavan, last year made the nine-mile swim across Lough Corrib, and in 1962 swam the sixteen miles of Lough Sheelin, from Crover to song-famed Finea in Co. Cavan, in nine hours, accompanied by champion swimmer Jack McClelland.

Rebecca Doreen Ewing - An Appreciation - On Wednesday, 26th August, at the end of seven years’ devoted service as Headmistress of the Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School, Miss Rebecca Doreen Ewing met her death as the result of a car accident just five days before a new term was to begin.

Manorhamilton’s New Church - An important event in the history of Methodism in Co. Leitrim took place on 26th ult., when a new Methodist Church and Hall were opened at Manorhamilton. The church, which has seating for 140 worshippers was dedicated by the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland.

Fermanagh County Show - The County Show is over for another year. For some, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week meant success and trophies to add to their collections - for others it meant the necessity to try harder next year.

For most of the two days the rain held off, but on Wednesday afternoon a downpour meant cancelling some of the showjumping events. Judges travelled specially from Scotland to adjudicate in the all-Ireland championship classes for cows and heifers. One of them, Mr. John Holmes, Fyfeshire, said of the winner of the dairy cow-in-calf class “Kilfennan Topay” owned by H. Lusby amd Son, Waterside, Derry. “This champion is an outstanding animal. It is a perfect Ayshire.” Other all-Ireland Class - The other all-Ireland class for dairy cow or heifer in milk was won by a Fermanagh man, John Armstrong, Maguiresbridge.

75 YEARS AGO - Sept 7, 1939: British Ship Torpedoed - Fermanagh and Tyrone people aboard - Ten hours after Britain had declared war on Germany the Donaldson liner ‘Athenia’ carrying 1,720 passengers and crew, outward bound for Canada, was sunk without any warning 250 miles west of the Hebrides, and thus Britain’s first casualties were non-combatants.

Many Unaccounted For - An unknown number were killed by the terrific explosion, and it is not yet possible to account for many of the ship’s complement. The vessel proceeding to Galway is the Norwegian Knut ‘Nelson’ (5,749 tons) and has 630 survivors. A luxury yacht, owned by a Swedish millionaire, picked up a further 200 passengers. Four destroyers raced to the scene shortly after news of the disaster reached the Admiralty. Many of those on board the Athenia were naturalised Americans and Canadians who had left Belfast on Friday. They included 65 children under 12 years. There were people on board from Florencecourt, Rosslea, Fivemiletown, Clogher and Ballygawley.

Fermanaghmen on ill-Fated Liner - ‘If I do not get away this week, I may not get away at all,’ said Mr. Robt. Acheson, who had been on a visit to his father at Tullyhona, Florencecourt. Mr. Acheson, used these words in answer to entreaties of his friends to remain on in Fermanagh for another week or two. He insisted on going back to Canada on Friday last and caught the ill-fated liner Athenia which was sunk by a German submarine on Monday morning last.

On board - Also on board the liner were - Carroll, Mabel, Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone. M’Caffrey, James, Mettaby, Clogher, Co. Tyrone.

A Whole Fermanagh Family - Frank, Sarah, Francis, Raymond, and Thomas Connolly, all of Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh. M’Clelland, Emily, c/o Rainey, Lettery, Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone. We are delighted to learn that Mr. Acheson is safe and amongst the passengers landed at Glasgow. He has been ten years in Canada, and for fifteen years before he left this country he was working with the late Mr. Wm. Elliott, J.P., of Greentown, Florencecourt. We also learn that the Rosslea family of Connolly have been saved.

Rationing - Petrol rationing will begin on the 16th inst., and food rationing towards the end of this month. The allowance will be a little over half a gallon per horse power per month. A seven horse car will get 4 gallons a month, and a 12 horse seven gallons.

A.R.P. at Kesh - A meeting of the A.R.P. volunteers of Kesh and Ederney districts was held on Monday. Major J.A. Henderson, A.R.P. official for Fermanagh, addressed the meeting, after which it was decided to hold a class of instruction under the supervision of Mr. C. Archdale, Ederney, who has taken an instructor’s course.