Shock waves have been rippling across the North this morning as people woke to news of a close but decisive victory for the Leave camapaign. Despite a resounding ‘Remain’ vote from Fermanagh and South Tyrone, with 28,200 voting to stay and 19,958 casting their ballot for a Brexit, the county will be formally breaking from the EU along the rest of the UK once negotiations to leave are complete. 

The fall out from yesterday’s referendum is only just beginning, and a clear picture of where the UK’s future is heading will likely not emerge for days, weeks and even months, but one thing is clear – Fermanagh will soon have a land border with the EU. What form that takes, and what other profound implications leaving will have on the county, remain to be seen but will no doubt begin to emerge in the months to come. 

One such implication could be increased political tensions here, with Sinn Fein already calling for another vote, this time on Irish unification. First Minister Arlene Foster has dismissed these calls,  stating there was not enough demand to justify such a referendum, and said people had “backed hope.” and the potential of the UK.