AMID all the negativity around Brexit it seems that things are ‘on the turn’ in Fermanagh’s second biggest town, Lisnaskea.
That’s not to say that ‘Skea doesn’t have its problems – good jobs are still hard to come by, epecially for young people, many people are still struggling to make ends meet, and there are serious concerns about health service provision.
On the upside, however, there’s plenty of cause for optimism. For example, the newly extended St Kevin’s College – with students from the old St Comhghall’s and St Eugene’s in Roslea – has had a highly successful first few months and the benefits are seen across the area.
Local estate agents say the local residential property market is booming. Leonard Estate Agents property consultant Eugene Hannigan said, “Every day we have calls from people looking for houses to rent… we currently have a waiting list of 38 people looking for three bedroom houses to rent in Lisnaskea. ”
Meanwhile, one of the county’s biggest employers, Connolly Transport, is going from strength to strength and, despite fears over hard border right on its doorstep, has become one of the biggest players in the Irish haulage sector
And if business new starts are anything to go by, things would appear to be on the turn in Lisnaskea. The town has recently been injected with some life as the Enterprise Centre has reached full capacity for the first time in a number of years. Since the new year, three businesses have moved into the centre, taking up the last remaining units and giving the business market a big boost. Situated on the edge of the town, the centre has been acting as the gateway to the town for start up and new businesses.
Upscale Marketing, which is run by Patrick Conlon, is now based at the Enterprise Centre. Patrick previously worked from home, and is currently the only person working in the business.
“We are doing video services for businesses who want to promote themselves on social media platforms – Facebook video, Youtube videos, and digital marketing services. I moved in over the past week or two and it has been going really well. ”
Also new to the centre is DR Electrics, an electrical contractor who works around the North but has recently located to the Centre since the start of January . “We have been in business for over 10 years, and we decided that we needed a base. It has been going well so far, I use it as a store room and an office. Everything used to be at home, but I needed extra space and the location is central to everywhere for me, ” said Paul Rice.
Just a few doors down, a new dance studio has been opened by Ciara O’Flanaghan who runs Fermanagh School of Music and Performing Arts.
“The business complex is off the main road, and we work with children so it was important to ensure we were based in a safe environment. We have over 170 students who be will coming to Lisnaskea for the classes, and this will bring some life to the centre too.”
Brian Cosgrove, manager of the Lisnaskea Enterprise Centre is delighted to be at full capacity, and to be bringing more businesses to the town.
“We are now at full capacity for the first time in three or four years. We are only about 100 yards from the edge of the town, and we are a good base for small start up businesses. We are very lucky to have this facility on the edge of the town.”
For more on this story see this week’s Fermanagh Herald!
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