A WELL-RESPECTED and long-standing chairperson of the board of Fermanagh Women's Aid (FWA) has announced that she is stepping down from her role this year.

Blanaid McKinney, who has been chairperson of Fermanagh Women’s Aid for three terms, and a member of the board for 10 years, has stepped down from her role, much to the "regret and sadness" of the management and staff of the charity.

According to the charity's Chief Executive Officer, Mary McCann, Blanaid “led with her knowledge, her Feminism, her understanding, her deep respect for staff and the work they do on a daily basis. Quietly and respectfully, she challenged and empowered."

Blanaid’s résumé of achievements, to date, is admirable, to say the least.

In 1984, she was the first woman to achieve a First in Politics from Queen's University with her thesis based on Feminism throughout the world.

In 1986, Blanaid was also instrumental to Women’s Studies being implemented as a course of study in Queen's University, facilitating its very first lecture on Feminism to a group of 400 students.

Her management experience, to date, includes Town Centre Manager, with Greenwich Development Agency; Marketing and Publicity Manager, with Enniskillen Town Centre Agency; Peace and Reconciliation II Task Force Manager, with Monaghan County Council; and Development Director, of Rural Support Cookstown.

With all of this knowledge and experience, her input to Fermanagh Women’s Aid has been immense, according to Mary.

“I was awed by her initial application to come on to the Board and more so as time went on. She has helped us in so many ways.

"Her sincere dedication and passion for supporting women is second to none – what she has done for Fermanagh Women’s Aid, we will be eternally grateful for.

"Over the years, she has been instrumental in the strategic development of the organisation, setting up the first finance strategy seeking small amounts of finance for running costs for the centre and refuge, and she was very successful.

"Her love and passion for the english language has also been such an asset to us, helping us in the production of leaflets and pamphlets and distributing them to the public.

"She has worked closely with our training department on the Open College Network accreditation of the centre, and taking on the role as Internal Verifier for our Domestic Violence Qualifications, both here and for other Women’s Aid centres in Northern Ireland, and is always prepared to help with whatever is required, and always without hesitation.

"To have had that level of commitment has been an amazing support to us all here.”

Speaking on behalf of the staff of Fermanagh Women’s Aid, Training Coordinator Michelle Alonso highlighted how Blanaid’s input was recognised and appreciated by all staff.

Michelle acknowledged how Blanaid has consistently been a “supportive, encouraging and motivating role model to all staff at Fermanagh Women’s Aid, and someone who is admired and respected".

She added: "Blanaid has a quiet, modest and unassuming nature for someone who is so academically and intellectually gifted. She has been an encouraging, motivating and inspiring Feminist role model to FWA staff,” said Michelle.

Blanaid McKinney will continue her involvement with the organisation in a volunteering capacity, much to the delight of both management and staff.