Paedar McGovern, McGovern Chemist, Derrylin
New proposals would make Belleek, not Derrylin, Fermanagh’s fourth town – local people gave their view…
George Naylor, The Forge, Belleek:
“I honestly don’t know whether it matters. This is the first I’ve heard of it. Will it be a way you’d get higher rates on people? Is it just an opportunity to increase things? Is it going to be any good for the business in the town? There’s good business but with higher rates it would to leave it harder to survive in the climate at the moment. The only fear I would have that it could be an excuse to charge – people would need to know that. It’s a good wee business village, it’s on the border. 99% of the business work well together.”
Declan McCaffrey, Erne Gaels, Belleek:
“Personally I hadn’t heard anything about the proposal to change Belleek’s status from a village to a town. I’m involved in quite a few groups at ground level locally and this was the first I’d heard of it, so if the locals have heard anything of this move it’s been kept very close to the chest!
“I don’t know if it’ll make a big difference, most Belleek folks have always referred to it as the town anyway, so that won’t change. My understanding from my school days was that historically the difference between a village and a town was that your towns had a market, and we’ve had one for years, so maybe it’s long overdue from that perspective.”
Janice Ferguson, Belleek Community Carers Group:
“I hadn’t heard anything about it. I chat a lot of parents on the school run and no-one has mentioned it. I think it’s definitely good as there seems to be more people moving into the area which will have a positive effect on local schools and businesses. There has been no chat really about the new Fermanagh Omagh council. Belleek as a place has many strengths – the friendly people, variety of shops and pubs, local secondary school Brollagh and local primary school St Davog’s, Rathmore clinic, Belleek Pottery and of course the Belleek Community Carers Group. I am biased!”
Seamus Rooney, The Lemon Tree, Belleek
“I’d never heard it. I don’t think it’d make a lot of a difference – I don’t think it’d be on anyone’s agenda in Belleek. I don’t know what the implications would be regards to rates.
“We were always on the periphery – we have always felt isolated. It hasn’t been a subject of debate in any company I’ve been in. We have a few councillors and it’ll be up to them to fight our corner. As regards to changing to town, I don’t know what the implications will be. Maybe as a town we’d be entitled to more money!”
Paedar McGovern, McGovern Chemist, Derrylin:
“I’m not suggesting Belleek isn’t town material but I’d think we’ve good passing traffic from Donegal to Dublin and back, and a good commercial centre. The village is quite long – there’s a lot of business going along there. We’ve an industrial development down where Blakes is and lots going on. We also have all the main services
“We hadn’t heard anything about it. But being known as a town is not something I’d considered. It’s up to those in Belleek to decide what they want.”
Joe McAdam, Startrite Auto, Derrylin:
“I see no real advantage to town status in Derrylin. Is it not another way of ensuring a rates hike or service charges? The village enjoys most of this services as it stands and experiences a good sense of identity and pride. It’s built to some extent on the Quinn business in the area. Hopefully, with the establishment of QBRC, this will be reignited and good luck to Belleek if they get their town status.”
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