IT’S not only Santa Claus who is taking part in home deliveries this Christmas, as one Fermanagh couple welcomed the very special gift of baby Michael Leavey – right on their front garden! “Michael was born on his due date 9 December. I have another son, Sean, who is two years old at home and […]
Community spirit saves the day for Santa’s ‘sleigh-by’
THE SPIRIT of Christmas is alive and well in Newtownbutler, where the a community came together to save Santa’s special visit to the village on Sunday after disaster struck. In what has been described as an early Christmas miracle, the community showed the true spirit of the season when a massive operation was mobilised after […]
Suicide is destroying ‘the soul of the country’
IN AN emotional plea during the funeral mass of Michael McPhillips, (54), his brother, Canon Jimmy McPhillips stressed it was finally time for us as a nation to talk about suicide and depression. “We need to talk so that no more families or communities are left like us this morning. Devastated, as we strive to […]
Renaissance man Mickey to be laid to rest today
Brother of late community stalwart urges people to talk about their mental health.
Little hope of rules for labour wards being lifted
HOPES for an intervention from Robin Swann to lift Covid restrictions on labour wards has been deemed “unlikely” as leading midwife union warns that rules must continue to keep “mothers and babies safe.” The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) issued a plea to those calling for a blanket reopening of services to recognise the infection […]
Facemasks a choice? Dearbhail asks you to think again
FOR NEWTOWNBUTLER student Dearbhail Hogan, wearing a face mask is not just a matter of choice but literally a matter of survival. With a rise in anti-mask campaigners across the county, 24-year-old Dearbhail who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, a condition that mainly comes with muscle weakness, heart problems and respiratory issues that confine her to […]
Kelly-Ann stepping out for charity!
NEWTOWNBUTLER woman Kelly-Ann Graham has certainly put an inch to her step in September. The mother of two is jogging and walking 100 miles through this month for charity. When she began she expected to raise only £150, but has now reached an amazing £450 and hopes to raise over £500 for ‘Children in Crossfire’. […]
Budding writer Dara sure has a way with words!
Eleven year old primary school pupil Dara Leonard certainly has a flair with words. The St Mary’s Newtownbutler Primary School pupil has penned a poem which reflects his own thoughts and indeed the toughts of many during this difficult time under Covid-19. The primary seven pupil, a son of Noel and Catherine Leonard, was assigned […]
Death of one of Femanagh’s oldest residents aged 100
NEWTOWBUTLER has said a sad farewell to one if it’s oldest residents, Peggy McAviney. Peggy passed away peacefully on Monday at her home in Drumralla, surrounded by her family. The well known and well respected local woman had celebrate her 100th birthday only a few weeks ago, on April 23. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions […]