The Princess and the poteen – recalling Elizabeth’s memorable visit to Fermanagh

LOCAL schoolchildren had the day off, and banqueting tables in Enniskillen’s Town Hall gleamed with freshly-applied polish.

Roadside hedges, gardens and grass verges were preened to perfection, and there was a thrilling air of expectancy from early morning all across County Fermanagh that day: Wednesday, March 20, 1946.

Princess Elizabeth's visit to Enniskillen.

Enniskillen and other local towns and villages were bedecked with Union flags, bunting and banners, and no self-respecting speck of dust would have dared to settle on the spotless streets and pavements.

Everyone was dressed in their best. Lawns were freshly mowed, gardens were meticulously tidied and all was spick and span for then 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth’s first ever visit to Northern Ireland’s scenic lakelands.

Formally described by The Impartial Reporter as “Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth, heir-presumptive to the throne of the United Kingdom, and future Empress of the British Commonwealth of Nations”, she waved and smiled at cheering crowds as her gleaming convoy motored through Ballygawley, Augher, Clogher, Fivemiletown, Brookeborough and Maguiresbridge.

The Royal procession halted in Lisbellaw, where Princess Elizabeth stepped from her car, dressed in a grey frock, coat and felt hat “with the brim rising from off her brow”, detailed the Impartial Reporter, adding: “except for a string of pearls and a diamond brooch, there was no added contrast”.

She was received in Lisbellaw by the High Sheriff for the County, and His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, and was presented with a bouquet of flowers by little Christine Eadie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ian Eadie.

Christine’s proud honour was previously procured when her name was drawn from a hat. On behalf of the town, the young Brownie, Muriel Kettyles, presented Princess Elizabeth with a locally-made rug.

Her Royal Highness smiled and gratefully thanked the children for her gifts with a “composure most marked”, The Impartial reported, “her smooth round cheeks did not even become flushed, and one gained the impression of a clean, sane, bonnie girl with good teeth and rich brown hair”.

She was out “to do her job with good heart” observed this newspaper, adding “the Royal party was heartily cheered as it drove off on the last stage of its journey to Enniskillen”. The cathedral bells pealed a joyful welcome.

Good cheer and plenty of cheering continued as the regal procession drove through the island town’s crowd-lined streets to The Imperial Hotel, where Princess Elizabeth was received by Hotel Manageress, Molly O’Rourke, from Tullaghan, Bundoran.

Princess Elizabeth's visit to Enniskillen.

Miss O’Rourke, dressed in a smart blue frock bedecked with a colourful duet of camellias, bowed and curtsied gracefully and shook hands with the Royal.

Shortly after 1pm, with deafening cheers roaring over the rooftops and echoing up the side streets, Princess Elizabeth entered the quieter grandeur of the Town Hall where the Northern Ireland Governor Earl Granville introduced her to Urban Council Chairman, W. E. Johnston; Town Clerk, N. J. Connor; and Borough Surveyor, J. Donnelly.

When she appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall, Princess Elizabeth was greeted with an ebullient succession of long, spontaneous cheering from the packed throng beneath.

Princess Elizabeth's visit to Enniskillen.

“She made an enchanting figure,” observed The Impartial Reporter, adding “she smiled in acknowledgement and waved her hand”.

Luncheon was served to 180 guests in the Town Hall’s Assembly Room, each table adorned with single yellow daffodils, mauve tulips and dishes of multi-coloured confectionary.

The top table, stretching the full width of the room, bore the Silver Mace that acknowledged Royal authority over the county town.

Subdued background music was provided by the band of the Royal Ulster Rifles, with which several of the war veteran waiting staff had served.

Seated amongst a posse of VIPs at the top table – including Northern Ireland’s Prime Minister, Sir Basil Brooke, the Governor and Council Chairman – Princess Elizabeth’s palate was more than adequately provided for with a choice of creamy celery soup or clear consommé for starters, followed by roast chicken on "a lordly dish” with mushrooms, bacon, peas, cauliflower and “potatoes fried like marbles”.

Princess Elizabeth's visit to Enniskillen.

A “grand finale” of pear trifle and ice cream preceded cheese and coffee. White napkins were placed strategically on the men’s ubiquitous, dark, tailored suits and uniforms.

The female vogue was for “the hat, the veiling or the diamante clip and shoulder elegance took many forms in fur”.

“The black ostrich feathers in the hat of Lady Enniskillen finished a very charming black ensemble,” The Impartial observed, “and the touch of rose showing beneath Mrs. T. C. Nelson’s navy boucle was a nice contrast”.

After lunch, Princess Elizabeth had an appointment with the police. At the RUC Depot, a guard of honour of 96 men, four Sergeants, two Head Constables and two Officers stood to attention.

When the smiling Royal arrived on the parade ground, she was greeted by the Royal Salute from the band of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

She was received by the Inspector General, Sir Richard Pim, and then inspected the guard and watched what The Impartial Reporter described as “a most impressive ceremonial march past”, and she took the salute.

While the RUC band played The Mountains of Mourne, the guard of honour “marched past in slow and in perfect alignment”, recounted this newspaper.

After the inspection, Princess Elizabeth was introduced to several RUC cadets and staff dressed up as poteen-makers.

Princess Elizabeth's visit to Enniskillen.

The colloquially clothed cops enacted the unlawful distillation of poteen in their dummy poteen-still, set in a mocked-up country ditch comprising dry bracken, moss and an old wooden cart lying in some turf.

Head Constable David Murray solemnly presented Princess Elizabeth with a pint bottle of poteen.

“Thon’s the quare stuff to keep away the flu,” she was told by one of the knee-breeched, welly-booted, shabbily-dressed ‘poteen makers’.

“Does anybody really drink that?” queried the future Queen. There were smiles from the spectators, and delighted chuckles from the Governor Earl Granville, as well as from the Prime Minister, Sir Basil Brooke, and from the Minister of Home Affairs, Edmond Warnock and his wife.

The delicate issue of Her Majesty’s illicit hooch later caused a stir in Stormont and in Council meetings, with the poteen's presentation just one more part of a most enjoyable and well-received visit to Fermanagh.