Fleadh should be family event

Editorial Department • Published 24 Jun 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Dear Sir, - I don't think I was the only person in Derrygonnelly who was unhappy and deeply uncomfortable by what went on at this years County Fleadh. The fact that some individuals felt it appropriate to brandish extremely realistic looking guns as if they were going out of fashion was at best a naive choice and at worst a sinister and wicked decision by the minority to intimidate the majority.

Northern Ireland has had to put up with enough fools running around with guns for almost 40 years now, and Derrygonnelly suffered much like every other town and village in Fermanagh did. That is why I think it so reprehensible for balaclaved idiots to be publically brandishing weapons; whether real or not. Surely it is a criminal offence? If not, sure what's there to stop me walking down the street frantically swinging a machete and then telling the screaming locals to relax because 'I'm only having a laugh'.

Whilst Bernice Swift has true to form completely failed to grasp the reality of the situation, let me assure her that the local residents were certainly not as comfortable with having guns being displayed around their young children as she apparently was. And whilst the chairman of the organising committee has admitted making a mistake I didn't see an apology within his comments.

Of course these brainless individuals no doubt thought it would boost their evidently small masculinity by waving about guns; even if it was only in front of women and children. But of course as well as wielding weapons in the air the 'float' included another ominous element as well, in that they dressed it up to mock the local spate of ATM's in Fermanagh. As the Impartial Reporter said last week, Fermanagh has previously suffered from those sorts of crimes, so one would have to wonder; was that the first time those thugs on the float cowered under those balaclavas or had they actually used them in a more authentic role?

Frankly speaking, that float should not have been allowed within sight of our village, never mind allowed to parade through it. Whilst things can happen unkownst the best of us, the organising committee would have undoubtedly had amble opportunities beforehand to prevent it setting off but yet for some strange reason they must have thought that having people mocking the rule of law while dressed up as GI Joe was an appropriate float to have at what is usually a family event. To me, it took away from the event and I know the people I was with found it equally out of place. Maybe next year it will go back to being a family event?

Yours faithfully,

Derrygonnelly citizen

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 24 Jun 10

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