Noel Johnston, Property Manager Crom Castle.
COME the end of this month, Crom Castle will have its very own cot, and for Noel Johnston, the manager of the West Wing at Crom Castle, it will complete a circle in that his grandfather was the ferryman for the old cot which was given to the National Trust.
On Friday, 31st October, Noel’s dream of having a cot ‘about the place’ will be formally fulfilled when two government ministers, Arlene Foster and Heather Humphreys will jointly launch it.
Speaking to the Herald this week, he explained how it all started, and the positive spin-offs the project realised.
“It’s a cross-border, cross-community project to start with. I met two peace funders from Cavan at an event, they came down to the (Crom) castle to see me and they said they would love to do something cross-border, cross-community.”
He explained that his grandfather used to ferry the pupils to Corlatt (Crom) school in a cot that has since been passed on to the National Trust.
So, in a way, it was a natural choice, but one that Noel was not expecting the reaction it received.
“The money, €20,000-€30,000, of course, was crucial, but it was more than that. The project helped bring people together in a way I never envisaged.
“The Cavan Men Sheds and SEFF (the South East Fermanagh Foundation) came aboard and, for me personally, we made so many good friends out of it. People do not see the real things that happen.”
As for the cot itself, Noel saw a regular and popular use for it by visitors.
“The Lough Erne cot is a very special way of travelling. When you’re in it, you feel you’re sitting on top of the water.”
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