Lisnaskea’s pathway to future paved with a proud and rich past

At the Cherry Tree Home Bakery, the smell of freshly-baked bread and aromatic curry welcomed customers in on what was a cold and damp afternoon.

The shop is run by brothers Glenn and Ashley Charles, and is full to the brim with customers.

The family are grateful for the support of the local community, adding that during the Covid-19 pandemic, “people saw what was on their doorstep and came back”.

Ashley explained that the business, founded by Norman and Isobel Charles in 1969, was quite different from where they are now.

Standing at the oven at the rear of the property, Ashley points up: “When my dad bought it, there was a hole in the roof.”

Glenn Charles.

However, the ongoing cost of living crisis has impacted them:

“Butter and milk have went up a lot, electric trebled in price,” Glenn said.

This has pushed the business towards sustainability.

The Cherry Tree recently installed solar panels and Ashley is busy now tending to a greenhouse as they pride themselves in their fresh and local produce.

The business has its eye on changes and evolution, but the brothers said this is for a simple reason: “We develop into where the customer is going.”

Ashley Charles, with a selection of his tomatoes.

Meanwhile, down the street in Dowlers Ltd., there is a nod to the past as staff look to the future of the business.

The Dowler shop and name is synonymous with Lisnaskea.

The original F. Dowler Ltd.’s closure in 2019 disappointed many, but in 2021, Mervyn Gregg and Raymond Chartres revived the business under the Dowlers Ltd. banner.

Assisting customers with their purchases, Raymond Chartres said: “People have really supported us. Two years ago you wouldn’t have thought we would have this back.”

James Cassidy, Robert Sheridan, Audrey Johnston and Raymond Chartres.

One notable return to the shop is the original staff members.

“We have eight members of staff from the original shop. There is 100 years of experience of service here.

The business has noticed a “steady trade” especially with cross-Border customers.

Standing behind the original desk from the shop, complete with original markings, scratches and memories of thousands of sales conducted over it, one of the staff members added: “It feels like a homecoming.”

Further down the street and hiding under the shelter of S. D. Kells from the rain, friends Rose Quigley and Martina Woods said that the people of Lisnaskea are great: “People are all we have.”

Rose Quigley and Martina Woods.

They remarked that Lisnaskea is blessed with good neighbours but felt there could be a few more shops:

“We have to go into Enniskillen or else go online shopping.”

Both remarked the new library has been a benefit to the town, and one noted her husband is a frequent user.

However, they and other residents voiced that Lisnaskea needs a hotel.

“The hotel is missed, or somewhere to eat and have a nice meal in the evening, it would be good.”

Jean Henry.

Elsewhere, lifelong resident Jean Henry was out doing her messages when asked about what is good about Lisnaskea.

“Everything!” she replied.

“The people – this is a very nice community.”

However, Mrs. Henry concurred with others about what the area needs and what it is missing.

“We do need nightlife and some facilities for children, especially for teenagers.

“Lisnaskea High School is a big miss, all the children went through it. We need a new health centre too,” Mrs. Henry added.

Danny and Eamon Maguire, Lisnaskea Electrical Supplies.

Eamon Maguire was busy serving customers in the showroom of Lisnaskea Electrical Supplies, one of the newer businesses in Lisnaskea.

The lights in the showroom were dazzling and with a range of indoor and outdoor lighting which are very attractive.

Explaining how he and his brother came about founding the business, he said: “We were both electricians and now have gone to wholesale.

“We want to offer the full package.We saw an opening for this type of business.”

When asked why they decided to set up the business in Lisnaskea, he continued: “We went to school in Lisnaskea, most of our friends are from Lisnaskea. We are from the Knocks.”

Why not set up in the Knocks?

“There is no internet in the Knocks!”

The brothers offer an impressive range of services including lighting and fitting electrics.

They said outdoor lighting in particular was popular over the summer months.

One man who has seen all of the changes in Lisnaskea is Ronnie Moffatt.

Ronnie Moffett.

The Magheraveeley man has been working in Lisnaskea for 70 years and his family have been in the same business for more than 100 years.

“Moffatt and Robinson was the auctioneering firm at that time and then it was N. R. Birney; they took over N.R. Birney and it all went under N.R. Birney,” he explained.

The building where Mr. Moffatt runs his business is impressive and full of character and formed part of what was Lisnaskea’s Buttermarket.

“There have been a lot of changes in the last 70 years.

“I remember pigs and pig carts along the street. We used to keep the horses at Gibson’s yard beside us up the entry here,” he said.

When asked about his custom, Mr. Moffatt said: “I have plenty of callers.”

He went on to describe his boyhood encounters with Egbert Trimble, a former Editor of The Impartial Reporter.

“You never thought you’d see a man like Trimble called into here, wearing his bow tie, his brown suit and a silver head of hair. I mind the bowtie, it was a silky one.

“He would come in and say to my father, ‘Tom, thank you for the business for the year’, and would tell him about the daughters, the pianists, Joan and Valerie.

“As far as I can remember, he had someone driving him, he wasn’t driving himself. He was a big, tall, strong man.

“He’d have been in his seventies, he was a well-spoken and intelligent man.”

Mr. Moffatt is sprightly at 84 and is well turned out in his corduroy trousers.

He maintains that his work is what keeps him young and active.

“What would you be doing, sitting in the house when you are able to be out? It would be different if you weren’t able to do it.”