Stop transfer test for the sake of youth mental health


WHILE exams for pupils at second level have been cancelled, some controversial transfer tests for primary pupils may still be going ahead. Locally, both St Michael’s College and Mount Lourdes Grammar School already announced they would not be holding transfer tests this year several months ago. However, on its website, the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School […]


Minister’s decision to eventually cancel exams welcomed


AFTER weeks and months of resisting calls from parents, politicians and in particular students, Education Minister Peter Weir has finally agreed to cancel this year’s GCSE and A Level exams. Minister Weir, who had resisted continuous calls for the exams to be cancelled, finally decided to pull the plug after similar decisions were taken in […]


Empty shelves… Brexit delivery issues persisting


WHILE it is nowhere near as bad as it could have been without a deal being reached, the realities of Brexit are continuing to bite in Fermanagh this week. As reported in the Herald last week, since Brexit became a reality on January 1 both businesses and residents here in the county have been experiencing […]


Public realm scheme steady progress despite set backs


DESPITE being behind schedule due to the Covid pandemic, the Enniskillen Public Realm scheme is continuing to make steady progress, with work continuing this month. Work on the £5 million revamp project, which will see the town centre getting a make over complete with new paths, art, lighting and landscaping, began in February last year. […]


Mountain Rescue team urges walkers to be prepared


WITH WINTER far from over, anyone planning a mountain hike or hill walk over the coming months is urged to “be prepared.” Since the new year the North West Mountain Rescue Team (NWMRT) has already been called out to assist a number of hikers on a snowy Cuilcagh and on neighbouring icy mountains south of […]


Public urged to stay at home as Trust issues warning


THE WESTERN Trust is pleading with everyone in the community to stay at home and do all they can to stem the spread of the virus, with SWAH launching its “extreme surge planning” as it struggles to cope with the growing number of Covid patients. Trust management has warned the number of Covid positive patients […]


Care homes struggle with growing Covid challenges


JUST LIKE the SWAH, local care homes are struggling to cope with continued staff absences and the rising cases of Covid in the community.  Up until the end of December there had been 20 recorded outbreaks of Covid at care homes declared to the Western Trust. At the same time, homes in the Trust area […]