This very early photograph of the Pride of Erin Ceilidhe Band, Fivemiletown, has been shared with Looking Back. It belongs to the Breslin family and the column is informed that it it over 60 years old. Capturing the start of the Pride of Erin Band, pictured back left is Brian Breslin, who is now in his eighties. Others musicians include Tommy Boyle (back second left), Francie Murphy and Francie Boyle. At the front are the McDermott sisters. Brian Breslin’s daughter, Anne McDermott felt the image would of interest to readers. Brian still plays the fiddle and it is very apparent that music features strongly in the family. Darren Breslin, Brian’s grandson is an All Ireland accordion player, while another grandson, Shane McDermott is an All Ireland banjo champion.

25 YEARS AGO - Dec 14, 1988: Flu bug bites Fermanagh’s schoolchildren - An epidemic is sweeping Fermanagh’s classrooms and the youngest children have been suffering most. Some schools have had almost a third of their pupils off sick at one time. At the Erne Hospital around 10 per cent. of the nursing staff are off ill but unlike other areas of Britain the wards are operating normally. In England some hospitals have had to cancel routine admissions and are only accepting accident and emergency victims. The “English Flu”, as it has been called, is wreaking havoc across the Irish Sea but medical experts here have yet to establish whether the same bug is responsible for the present wave of sickness in Fermanagh. Many children in the county have been very ill but most adults have not suffered to the same extent.

Minister Launches 1990 bursaries for ‘Spirit of Enniskillen’ - Education Minister, Dr. Brian Mawhinney has renewed his challenge to young people to play their part in promoting community harmony in Northern Ireland. The Minister was launching the 1990 “Spirit of Enniskillen” bursaries, a scheme which he initiated last year and which encourages young people in the 16-19 age range to travel outside Northern Ireland and then on return use the experience to foster community bridge building at home.

The Mummers’ Revival - The pupils of St. Mary’s Secondary School, Irvinestown, have been leading the revival of Mumming in Fermanagh over the past couple of years. Tomorrow, Friday night, the school’s Mummers will perform on a BBC television arts programme called “29 Bedford Street”. It is to be shown on BBC2 at 7.30pm. Recorded at the American Folk Park in Omagh, it shows the Irvinestown Mummers perform their sketches in the traditional surroundings. For the past five years the pupils have been performing in local hospitals and halls as the Christmas Mummers.

Photo caption - Former Northern Ireland international Jimmy Cleary coaching boys from the Model Primary School Primary 7 class, as part of the Burton “Striker” competition. Jimmy, formerly of Glentoran, Portadown and Enniskillen Rangers and an I.F.A. coach delighted the 20 boys aged between 10 and 14 with coaching and skills techniques. After an hour’s coaching, Jimmy gave the boys a chance to talk and question him about his football career.

50 YEARS AGO - Dec 10, 1964: Locomotive “Inniskilling” - General Sir John Anderson, Ministry of Defence, gave the name “Fifth Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards,” the regiment of which he is colonel to British Railways Locomotive No. 62 at a ceremony at St. Pancras Station, London. After he had unveiled the name tablet, General Anderson took the driver’s key and became the first person to start the locomotive in its new name. Trumpeters from the regiment played a fanfare.

Irvinestown Excitement - MAP - Irvinestown has been in the news a good deal lately, particularly for the children. It was a big thrill for many (not only children), when the Ulster Dairy Queen (Anna Donnan) gave out the prizes for the arts and crafts competition. The next exciting event will be when Santa Claus comes to Irvinestown tomorrow (Friday) night to help in giving out the presents of sweets and fruit so kindly provided by the “City Fathers.” The Trustees have given this Christmas treat to thousands of children over the years. The Trustees have also set up a flood-light to illuminate the clock tower.

Tops at Handicrafts - (photo caption) - Two students of Enniskillen County Secondary Intermediate School, Alan Mitten, Kinawley. winner of 1st prize for pottery, and Hugh Shaw, Belmore Street, Enniskillen, 2nd prize, with their exhibits at the arts and crafts exhibition at Irvinestown’s Shopping Week.

Christmas Post - Post Office officials expect the volume of Christmas mail to rise again this year. Additional accommodation has been hired and postal staff will be more than doubled.

Death of Clones Hero - The death has occurred at an advanced age of Mr. John J. Fox, Legar Crescent, Clones. He served with distinction with the British Army in World War I and was awarded a military decoration for courageous action. He was for many years a Postman attached to Clones Post Office and later took up employment in England until his retirement a few years ago.

75 YEARS AGO - Dec 14, 1939: Enniskillen Nuns’ Jubilees - A sacred play, ‘St. Philomena,’ and an operetta, ‘Spirit of the Wood,’ were privately presented by the pupils in the Convent of Mercy, Enniskillen, in connection with the jubilee celebrations of the following members of the community: - Rev. Mother Mary St. Du Esprit (McHugh), Castleblayney, diamond jubilarian; and Sisters Mary Ignatius, Mullingar; Mary John (O’Reilly), Mary Joseph (Murphy), Mary Veronica (Doyle), and Mary Patrick (Ward), silver jubilarians. Rt. Rev. Mgr. Tierney congratulated the jubilarians, and expressed hearty appreciation of the pupils’ performance.

Bridge Tournament in Enniskillen - One of the most pleasant fixtures in our social calendar during the winter season is the bridge tournament organised by Mrs. Cecil Taylor for the League of Pity. This year’s function took place in the Townhall, Enniskillen, on December the 6th, when over 20 tables sat down to play. Be it the warm tender humanity in the heart of the players for distressed children, or be it that nearly a hundred people are happy playing bridge in pleasant surroundings - the result is a successful one! Mrs. Cecil Taylor has as her aides-de-camp her sister, Mrs. James Morrell, and her mother Mrs. F.R. Browne, and this trio of efficient women produce the niceties, the amenities that make for a bright party.

The Scores - Finally, after the experts had checked the scores, Mr. and Mrs. Scales were adjudged winners, followed by Miss Anna Hare and Miss Linda Brennan. As a consolation prize Miss Eileen Jackson and Mrs. Gibson were scarcely able to lift their prize - a bag of potatoes! Before the party broke up, Mrs. Cecil Taylor thanked the gathering for coming.

Dr. Violet Reilly - Things in General - The Enniskillen Girls’ Collegiate School is now old enough - (it is nearing its quarter century mark) - to call upon its distinguished old girls to distribute the prizes, and so, next week, Miss Violet Reilly, M.D., B.Sc., D.P.H., will perform the ceremony. She is one of the school’s most brilliant ‘old girls’. She entered Queen’s University before reaching the age of 17, took her Science degree, and later studied medicine, obtaining the M.B. degree, and later becoming a Doctor of Medicine. She also obtained the degree ‘Diploma of Public Health.’ At present she is a lecturer in Queen’s University, and has held a number of important posts in the leading hospitals in Belfast. As a child she was a promising pianist.