A new High Sheriff has been appointed for County Fermanagh.

Popular local butcher Pat O’Doherty has been appointed to the role.

Mr. O’Doherty succeeds Monea woman, Catherine Irwin in the role, which is a largely ceremonial role as the Queen’s judicial representative in Fermanagh.

As part of the role, Pat may have to receive a High Court Judge when they arrive for a Crown Court sitting, plus other duties during the court sitting.

‘Varied opportunities’

He will be invited to greet any member of the Royal Family or Head of State visiting the county, and to attend other functions by invitation.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Pat said: “I am delighted to be appointed High Sheriff of Fermanagh for 2022. In this role, I am determined to positively represent Fermanagh in the many varied opportunities that this post presents.

“I am eager to raise the profile of my county and to encourage people to visit, invest, and embrace Fermanagh.

“Of all the counties to be selected for, Fermanagh is the jewel: the culture, the landscapes, the mystique and most importantly the people. We have such a diverse population living in Fermanagh right now and it’s great to be able to highlight this diversity

“I have a very busy year ahead with lots of events already scheduled both here and further afield and I intend to embrace my role with fervour, with the country now starting to open up after this lockdown, it’s a brilliant time to embrace this role.”

Pat is married to wife Eilish, and has four children; Fintan, Ellen, James and Maria he took over the running of his family butchers, O’Doherty Fine Meats in the 1980s, he is still involved with the business established which is now managed by his son, Fintan.

Humanitarian work

Pat left Enniskillen and began studying for a degree in Environmental Science, he began work on a PhD and returned to Enniskillen to lend a hand with his father’s business and apply the skills learnt to the meat trade.

He has a keen interest in humanitarian work; for a period in the 1980s – 1990s he worked with people in the slums in Bombay, India.

Pat added: “It was an eye-opening challenge and pivotal in my life, I have a deep affinity for the work done out there and have organised [in the past] for different groups to go out there and work with people.”

Natural environment

Another interest is the natural environment, Pat’s work on Innishcorkish Island is familiar to many but now time is spent preserving the natural environment on the island and working toward making it a protected area, says Pat.

He added: “All of this is linked to climate change, and it is important to wake up climate change and the pollution we create ourselves.”

In his free time Pat can often be found gathering litter from around the Erne and further afield. He also has a keen interest in all types of sport and is delighted by the “thriving” local sports scene.

Concluding, Pat said: “There are a lot of plans for the year ahead and I want to make it count and represent Fermanagh out there and project a positive representation of our county.”