Roisin Smyth, the High Sheriff of Enniskillen RMG51
FERMANAGH can boast not one but two High Sheriffs for this year – representing two counties in the North.
Roisin Smyth is the 2016 High Sheriff for Fermanagh and one of eight people appointed to the prestigious post. This is the second year in a row that a woman takes the office as Mrs Smyth succeeds Hope Kerr, also from Enniskillen. The principal duties of a High Sheriff include welcoming members of the Royal Family to the county and providing support to High Court judges when on circuit.
The daughter of the late Sean and Mary McCusker from Drumcor Hill, Cornagrade in Enniskillen, Mrs Woods is married to Barry Smyth and the couple have two sons, Niall (6) and Donal (4).
A former pupil of St Fanchea’s College, Enniskillen and Fermanagh College, Mrs Smyth studied at the College of Business at Belfast Institute and at Griffith College in Dublin. Jobs followed in the finance division at Translink’s Head Office in Belfast and with Fermanagh College in addition to working on a number of funded community projects.
Mrs Smyth is also a well-known face in the area due to her previous work with Devenish Partnership Forum, which she managed for over eight years. She has worked as the finance and monitoring officer with Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership.
Volunteering has played a major role in Mrs Smyth’s life – she has volunteered with Make A Wish Foundation since 2003 and last year she became involved with Project St. Patrick, a small but committed group who have organised the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Enniskillen for the past six years.
Mrs Smyth said she was proud to be representing Fermanagh in an official capacity in 2016.
“I’m not sure as yet quite what the role will entail. We’ll just have to wait and see who comes to visit Fermanagh this year. As a proud Fermanagh woman, I’m very honoured to have been selected for the post. I love my county and I’m dedicated to it,” she said.
As it is mainly a judicial role (as opposed to that of Lord-Lieutenant who is the sovereign’s personal represenatative), Mrs Smyth will officially commence the year-long position when she is sworn in as High Sheriff by a solicitor in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile a Fermanagh-born man has just been appointed as this year’s High Sheriff of Tyrone.
Derrygonnelly native Paddy McGowan MBE (79) moved to Omagh 57 years ago where he has played a prominent public role in the town since the 1960s as a fire-fighter,
Ulsterbus manager and a member of Omagh District Council.
Speaking about his new role, Mr McGowan said: “When I saw the letter that I was appointed High Sheriff I did think ‘What is going on?’ But it is pleasing to be acknowledged in this way because it means that somewhere along the line you satisfied people and that’s what it is all about.
“It’s a shock in many ways but I suppose I am humbled and honoured that I was chosen. It is a nice gesture and a good way to start 2016.”
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