Unexpected death of man behind Cafe Merlot


THE unexpected death has taken place of highly accomplished chef, Gerard (Gerry) Russell, head chef at Cafe Merlot and Blakes of the Hollow for the past 20 years. Mr Russell from Glebe Court, Monea, but originally from Lurgan, was a skilled and talented chef who won numerous national wards and achieved the inclusion of Cafe […]

Andrew wins audience prize at Festival of Voice


FERMANAGH tenor Andrew Irwin is hitting all the right notes this weather. Andrew, who sings hymns regularly at Rossorry Church of Ireland, won the Audience Prize at the Northern Ireland Opera’s Festival of Voice at the weekend. The competition was held over a week in Belfast with just five selected finalists from across the island […]

Ally and Marian delighting audiences on line


MUSIC is playing a big part in people’s lives as they struggle after lockdown. Enniskillen entertainers Ally Harron and Marian Curry have witnessed it first hand as they too struggle to come to terms with the normal and entertainment. Ally points out, “My last real gig was in America on March 14 and nothing has […]

£1.6m price for ‘one of the best farms in Fermanagh’


WHAT has been described as ‘one of the best farms in the county’ is up for sale for £1.6million. The extensive farm with high quality facilities and agricultural land in Fermanagh can be sold as whole or in two lots. The 202 acre property at Benmore Road, Coracloon, Churchill, Derrygonnelly, is on the books of […]

TV actor Dunbar supports bid to sort raw sewage issue


RESIDENTS of an Enniskillen housing estate are up in arms because they say sewage which regularly overflows into the street is posing a serious real health risk. The residents at Galliagh Shore on Rossorry Church Road, have been fighting for several years to have the problem resolved after the developer went bust leaving a sewerage […]

Relief at last for households dogged by poor broadband


THE Council is urging residents and businesses to check if they may be eligible for an upgraded broadband connection through the new Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Broadband.   Under the USO for Broadband, residents and businesses have a legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection from BT. BT is in the process of […]

£250,000 package to help town centre back on its feet


ENNISKILLEN is expected to benefit from a quarter of a million pounds package from the  Department of Communities to support town centres in their economic recovery from the effects of Covid-19. This week Enniskillen Business Partnership responded to the announcement saying that the money should be spent in a rejuvenation scheme for Enniskillen town centre. […]

Hume remembered as political colossus & man of courage


NOBEL Peace Prize winner John Hume has died at the age of 83. Mr Hume, who was instrumental in the Good Friday agreement, died in a Derry nursing home following a long illness. He was a founding member of the SDLP in 1970 and led the party from 1979 until 2001. Reitred SDLP councillor John […]