I WAS speaking with a young man in his twenties recently who is gay and could not accept it; in fact, he said that he hated being gay and regrets that he is not heterosexual. This was not an isolated incident. I have come across quite a few gay people who struggle to accept their sexuality, yet […]
Junior doctors to stage more walkouts in the North
JUNIOR doctors in Northern Ireland have said they will stage further strike action after pay talks with the Department of Health broke down. It will see two 48-hour walkouts from May 22-24, followed by a similar walkout from June 6-8. Junior doctors previously went on strike for the first time on March 6. A Western Trust […]
Carter confirmed as Lough Erne ambassador
COUNTRY music star Nathan Carter has said he’s ‘really looking forward’ to his new chapter as brand ambassador at one of Fermanagh’s top hotels. The Liverpudlian, who lives in Bellanaleck, has recently been confirmed as the first official brand ambassador at the award-winning Lough Erne Resort. The Country music star said he was looking forward […]
Celebrating intergenerational week in Garrison
AN age gap didn’t stop two generations in Garrison coming together to mark global intergenerational week. Little Smarties pre-school and the Garrison weekly coffee morning group came together to plant trees and sow wild flower seeds. The event saw both groups spending time with each other and bonding while they spread seeds and planted two trees at Rusheen […]
Fermanagh Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships
THE skill of the pipe, the beat of the drum and flourish of the drum major will be on full flow at this years Fermanagh Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships. On Monday, the sections plans were announced at a launch evening for the championships in the Westville Hotel, Enniskillen. The long established cross border, […]
Ringfenced beds at SWAH ‘difficult to maintain’
DESPITE assurances of around two ringfenced beds for patients transferred from South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) to Altnagelvin Hospital for emergency general surgery, the Western Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed this proved “difficult to maintain” and the beds were reallocated. However, it has since been stressed the beds have been reinstated as of […]
Fermanagh band The Tumbling Paddies tease new music
FANS of The Tumbling Paddies have been left excited after some of the bands members posted a photo teasing that some new music could be on the way. Gareth Maguire, the lead singer of the Fermanagh band, was snapped alongside percussionist John McCann and guitarist Ciarán Owens, with the caption ‘doing something cool in our […]
Fermanagh parents warned of rise in whooping cough
PARENTS in Fermanagh and across the North have been put on alert after five babies died in England due to whooping cough. In worrying news for parents, there’s been a significant rise in cases of whooping cough, which can be extremely serious for babies. According to the Public Health Agency, there have been 769 cases […]
Fracking ban motion good for Fermanagh
ECONOMY Minister Conor Murphy’s recent announcement at the Northern Ireland Assembly that he would bring forward a motion to stop fracking in the North was welcome news to residents of rural Fermanagh. The proposal to ban onshore oil and gas exploration and production in the North would cover all forms of onshore petroleum exploration and production – including […]
Fermanagh couple support baby loss certificate calls
A BEREAVED Fermanagh father feels that the implementation of baby loss certificates could help parents through their grief. A baby that dies after 24 weeks is officially recorded as a stillbirth. Despite significant and increasing calls from parents, there is no such formal recognition for babies lost earlier than 24 weeks. After appeals from support […]