Fermanagh Shirts to the Clintons
LOCAL EYES were fixed on the American presidential race last week as Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for the democratic nomination.
Ms Clinton, along with her husband, former president Bill Clinton, have a connection with Fermanagh, helping to shape the peace process in Northern Ireland and lending their name to a community centre in the heart of Enniskillen.
Director of Fermanagh Trust Lauri McCusker met the Clintons on numerous occasions in the early years of the 21st century and was struck by their presence.
“They were very powerful people, with huge leadership credentials and credibility and we have seen that from both the former president and Hillary since 2004 in terms of her roles in the US Senate and as US Secretary of State.”
Speaking in more detail about the presidential candidate he continued:
“She’s a very impressive lady in terms of her commitment on two issues; On women’s issues she has always put it at the forefront of her work over many years and carried that on here through ‘Vital voices’. This was an initiative brought from America over here and was really about giving a voice to women and encouraging women from all walks of life to engage and be heard.
“The other thing is that she and her husband over many years have shown commitment to the peace process and peace building in Northern Ireland.”
Whether she will take her seat in the White House in 2016 Lauri insists it is too early to tell, with not only the Republican candidate to contend with, but impressive rivals within her own party standing in the way.
“You can never take anything for granted in an 18 month plus time span. In terms of odds she is the favourite, but life can throw many things at us.”
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