The former site of Lisnaskea High School
ON September 1 last year, the gates of Lisnaskea High School closed for the last time, falling roll numbers being the reason.
The school, in the judgment of the Western Education and Library Board, had become ‘uneconomic’ to run.
The statistics appear to bear that out: when the school opened in 1959, it had a pupil population of 349; at the time of its closure and its amalgamation with Devenish College, that number was down to 107.
Since then, Lisnaskea Youth Club has been occupying some of the rooms.
For its part, the Board has no educational plans for the school.
However, its officers have given a commitment to the parents/guardians’ group that it would consider the building and the grounds for ‘community’ use.
A WELB spokesman has informed the Herald that it had received interest in the site for ‘community’ use and was in discussions with a local community group on proposals for its future use.
A spokesman for this group, who asked for it not to be identified, was clear what his group wanted.
“It has to be an integrated mixed-use site.
It is important that an educational purpose would be retained, or where economic development could be delivered.
“The South West College, we feel, should be looking at it, where south west Fermanagh would be an offshoot of the Enniskillen campus where specific skills and base learning could be based there.
“It’s an incredible site but the problem is, it will take professional people to bring it to fruition.”
He revealed that a sporting club was interested in the ground for basing its headquarters there, and he was aware of two businesses who would be similarly in the buildings, one to relocate and one starting off,
Jean McVitty, the spokesman for Lisnaskea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Chamber had never discussed any future plans for the former High School that she was aware of.
Her opinion is a purely personal one.
“Personally, I feel if there’s no sustainable future for the building to be used for youth club / community events, it’s location would be ideal for a hotel with its excellent parking and grounds or as a link /arm to an established manufacturing base.
“There was major investment on science labs, etc. before its closure, it’s a sound building situated on a good prominent site, with excellent access to the south / major routes.
“An unused derelict site on the approach road to Lisnaskea town would be an eyesore and soul destroying for the area.”
For Doreen Mullan, the chairman of the Lisnaskea High School Action Group – which fought against closure – the issue still touched a raw nerve.
“Its a live issue in Lisnaskea”, she stated. “Obviously, it’s closed and, according to the Minister (John O’Dowd) when we met him, it’s going to remain that way.
“My own feeling about this whole ‘shared education’ thing is that John O’Dowd has missed out on a golden opportunity.
“Fermanagh has suffered more from the Troubles than any other county and here there was a solution sitting, with St Eugene’s (Roslea) and St Aidan’s (Derrylin) struggling and St Comhghall’s occupying an overcrowded site.
“So, the question was: how could you not build there and make it available to the Protestant families who would like to make use of it?”
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