County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge held their Annual Awards and Presentation night on Friday, February 16 in Enniskillen District Orange Hall.

Those attending were welcomed to the evening by the County Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Mervyn Byers.

After an opening prayer and the singing of the National Anthem, the evening then got under way on the instruction of the Master of Ceremonies, Wor. Bro. Wesley Graydon.

Awards were presented to members who were nominated for the voluntary work they do in their Orange Lodges, their churches, the community and further afield.

There was also recognition for recruitment, which has been quite successful this year with more than 50 new members joining the Men’s Lodges in the past year.

This was quite significant for a number of small lodges in rural areas, and for one lodge, they increased their membership by more than 40 per cent.

The Women’s Lodges recognised a similar increase, with one lodge increasing its membership by 75 per cent.

There has also been an interest in the Junior Orange Lodges, with a new Girls Lodge starting in Lisbellaw, and a new Boys Lodge to start in the Derrygonnelly area in the next few weeks.

As well as the awards, there were a number of cheque presentations made to local charities, totalling more than £12,500. These included donations to Cancer Connect NI, Dementia, Scripture Union, Real Life, Orange Widows & Welfare, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Willowbridge, the RNLI, SWELL, and the RUC GC and UDR CGC benevolent funds.

This was raised through street collections at The Twelfth, the Annual Banner Mission, the Annual Murdered Brethren Memorial Service, and a Gala Dinner.

The County Fermanagh Grand Lodge are grateful to all of the businesses and groups which sponsored awards and came along on the night.

Awards were as follows.

Oldest Orangeman to take part in the Twelfth, 2023: James Armstrong.

Youngest Orangeman to take part in the Twelfth 2023: Noah Wright.

Greatest numerical increase in membership 2023: Knockmanoul LOL 443; joint runner-up: Lisbellaw LOL 315, Derrykeeghan LOL 690, Belle Isle LOL 1314.

Greatest District numerical increase in members 2023: Enniskillen DLOL 5.

Greatest percentage increase in membership 2023: Derrykeeghan LOL 690; runner-up: Knockmanoul LOL 443.

Greatest District percentage increase membership 2023: Ballinamallard.

Greatest numerical and percentage increase in members: Derrygonnelly WLOL 179.

Greatest percentage of Orange members on the Twelfth: Brookeborough Flute Band; runner-up: Magheraveely Flute Band.

For work within his Lodge: David Pennell; runners-up: Mark Benson, Trevor Watson.

For voluntary work in the community: Alan Latimer.

For work within her Lodge: Beverley Elliott; runners-up: Victoria Carson, Milly Crawford, Angela Doherty, Eveline Glenn, Hazel Latimer, Karen Sheridan.

For voluntary work in the community: Anna Moffitt/Hazel Latimer; runners-up: Florence Brown, Iris Knox (deceased), Margaret Reilly, Karen Sheridan.

County Grand Mistress Award: Emma Kettyles.

Best Twelfth photograph: Gllian Morrison; runners up: Angela Hicks, Jennifer Elliott, Gillian Stronge, Tedd LOL.

Response to Twelfth consultation: Gwyneth Blair.

Certificates were also presented to the following lodges for a number of milestones:

Garrison DLOL 15 – New Banner.

Magheraveely LOL 467 – New Banner.

Belle Isle LOL 1314 – Historical meeting in the venue of the original lodge meeting at its formation.