With work continuing apace on the restoration of the Enniskillen Workhouse in preparation for its reopening in late summer, members of the public had the chance to take a tour around the building and see just how what has been happening since the work began.

The tour, curated by Catherine Scott, Development Officer with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Robbie Fitzpatrick Heritage (Construction) Education and Skills Co-ordinator at South West College, gave those in attendance a history of the workhouse as well as a picture of what the finished product will look like come the summer.

The tours give people a glimpse inside the workhouse, to see the quality of heritage skills used in the restoration; discover more about the many fascinating objects, including shoes and animal teeth, and original architectural features uncovered.

Explaining why these tours are taking place whole work is still ongoing, Catherine explained: “This notion of hard hat tours is to see the workings of the restoration before it’s open. So I suppose it’s to get to see behind the Workhouse doors before everybody else does and before even those interpretations, even though they are limited, will be in place.

“You are seeing the doors going back on, you are see the walls being stripped back and it is really seeing the fabric of the building revealed.”

Catherine says there is a real interest from people to get in to “see and feel” the building before anybody else.

Another tour will take place on April 9, but Catherine says there is so much interest it is likely her and Robbie will be doing another one in May as well.

There is a real momentum in interest around the Workhouse says Catherine, who is taking great pride in seeing the restoration of the building from the brickwork, the doors, the windows and chimneys and she is excited for the finished product.

“I’m excited for it reopening and I think it will be used for so many things and it could be a great venue for all sorts of heritage events and research events.”

Catherine concluded saying: “In a few months’ time, Enniskillen Workhouse will reopen its door,”

“The same doors that were closed in 1948, doors, which were a threshold to another way of life. The reopening of the workhouse will be a hugely poignant moment in the history of this building and the town of Enniskillen and the stories of the lives of those crossed that threshold.”

To reserve a place on the next tour email: catherine.scott@fermanaghomagh.com or robert.fitzpatrick@swc.ac.uk.