As reported in last week’s Herald, the landslide win by the Conservatives in Britain and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s subsequent comments on legally limit the Brexit transition period after the UK leaves the EU at the end of January, have further added to anxiety about the future felt by many in the county. 

Even before the December Westminster election exacerbated fears, though, the people of Fermanagh were already deeply worried about the future, a new Brexit report has concluded. 

‘The Border into Brexit’ report has highlighted how worried the people of Fermanagh had already been becoming increasingly worried about their futures because of Brexit. 

The research, which was conducted by Queen’s University in conjunction with the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), involved contributions from over 500 residents of the border region. 

The report revealed the uncertainty of the past few years had meant individuals and businesses have held off decisions that would otherwise have brought investment and growth in the area. People reported already experiencing major changes in personal and work life, including from job losses and insurance difficulties. 

The report also concluded the uncertainty was destabilising the peace process.  

A participant from the Fermanagh/Cavan border region who took part in the research said: “It’s the imposition of a border and it’s the challenge to identity that comes with that. It’s taking away freedoms and affecting how you live your normal life. 

“It’s a wholesale change and irrespective of whether the border is here [on the land border] or a sea border – it’s going to have a huge impact on life here.”

Clones Cllr Pat Treanor, pictured left chairman of ICBAN, said the local border had been central to the Brexit debate, and said research such as the report was essential. 

“Together with Queen’s University Belfast, we have sought to give voice to the people from our Border Region, and to provide a means to record and report on these opinions,” said Cllr Treanor.