A LONG way from his home of Norway, Jørn Bjerknes was delighted to celebrate Norwegian Day with his Fermanagh friends, as barge owners from across the county joined him in Enniskillen for a special parade along the River Erne to mark the day.

Norwegian Day – more formally known as Constitution Day – is the national day of Norway and is an official public holiday observed on May 17 each year, commemorating the signing of the country's constitution on that date in 1814.

The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark-Norway's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.

Originally from Norway, Jørn moved to Ireland 15 years ago and in 2012 he and his wife, Mary McInerney, built the Lovely Leitrim Barge.

The couple are well-known in the Fermanagh area, having previously hosted music and literary events on their barge in Enniskillen, which also acts as a floating hotel (a 'boatel') and restaurant.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter on Monday ahead of their alternative water-based parade that evening, Jørn explained that they had their first, albeit spontaneous, parade to mark Norwegian Day in Ireland while they were moored in Carrick-on-Shannon in 2016.

"We [paraded] around the roundabout in Carrick and it was great fun," said Mary.

"This year we’re here [in Fermanagh] so we decided to do it here [in Enniskillen]," said Jørn, noting that due to the pandemic, they decided to take the parade to the water with a flotilla of barges and boats.

"This year we’re on the boats because of the social distancing," he said.

“It’s the ideal way to have a parade in this climate," added Mary.

Aboard the Lovely Leitrim Barge, which had been adorned with Norwegian flags for the occasion, Mary and Jørn led the parade of boats. As spectators watched on from the shore, the flotilla travelled from the jetties at Enniskillen Castle, passing the Round 'O' and on towards the lock gates.

At the gates, they turned and made their way back up the River Erne to moor at the jetties by Erneside.

When asked how it felt to celebrate Norwegian Day in Enniskillen, Jørn said: “I feel honoured by how many people have showed up. It warms my heart. It’s an emotional day in many ways."

Mary added: "It’s nice for Jørn as well because he hasn’t been able to see his parents in nearly two years now.

"We were meant to go just before the lockdown – just that week of the lockdown so he can’t go back for another few months," she said.

Jørn went on to comment how it was "great" to be able to celebrate his heritage with his Fermanagh friends.