Fermanagh memory installation tells stories of live lost since Pandemic

A walk around the three large hearts made with placing electric tea-light candles and 240 beautiful and unique hand-painted stones told the stories of 240 people who lost their lives throughout the pandemic, including some of those locally who have died of Covid-19.

Stones were painted with emblems from football teams, animals and various tokens which were important in reflecting the life of the person in which the stone was in memory of.

Among the stories from across Northern Ireland, England, the USA and further afield were many local names, with each unique stone telling the story of someone who is no longer with us.

Hazel Gray, who helped to bring the Memory Stone of Love to Enniskillen, described the day as "special". Her own parents, George and Violet Little, sadly passed away barely one month apart as a result of Covid-19, last December and this January.

She said: "It's been lovely to see people in person as opposed to on texts or Facebook. There have been people here who I did not even realise had lost somebody.

"It has been very special for memories and shared experiences, and being able to put a story behind the name.

"It has been special for everyone together, and feels like we have met a new family [of people who have been impacted and understand] by meeting Ciaran, Marie and Brenda and everyone who came along today."

Arlene Johnston with a memory stone for her mother Una Ellis and organiser Hazel Gray with memory stones for her mother and father George and Violet Little.

The two founders of Memory Stones of Love were also present – Ciaran Ward, who lost both of his parents, Breege and Owen Ward, Strabane, and Brenda Doherty, who lost her mother, Ruth Burke, Newtownabbey, to the virus.

Ciaran's sister, Marie Gibson, paints the individual stones.

Ciaran and others gently told the stories of some of the stones to the visitors to the installation.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Ciaran reflected on the event, saying: "A lot of the families who have lost someone during the pandemic, whatever the type of illness it has been, they haven't had proper funerals, proper wakes, seeing people or hugging people.

"Bringing the installation to Fermanagh has allowed us to bring people's loved ones closer to them.

"For some people, it may be just a rock with a name on it, [but] we met some of the families here, and there has been a lot of tears, and a lot of them have said they felt a lot closer to their families from being here.

"A lot of the families are then able to support each other and share their stories with each other."

He added: "Meeting and sharing stories with people has been nice, in a way, because we know the pain and the suffering they have gone through.

"It has been humbling to hear some of the stories that the families have shared with us."

Ciaran Ward and his sister Marie Gibson withtheir mother and fathers stones with Brenda Doherty and her mothers memory stone.

The Memory Stones of Love idea was started by Rima Samman, a woman in New Jersey, America, who lost her brother, Rami, to Covid-19.

It is hoped that the lives lost in the past year can be remembered in a permanent memorial both nationally and at a local level.

Balie Cobane from Irvinestown with stones to remember his great uncle and uncle both from Omagh.