This summer marks 60 years since the first of the revived Fermanagh Feis which ran on June 23, 1962. To celebrate the milestone, a Civic Reception was hosted by the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Errol Thompson on Monday, May 16 at the Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen which was attended by a number of current Feis committee members including Feis President Lena Corrigan, who has been involved for 57 years since 1965.
To continue the 60th anniversary celebrations, anyone who has been involved in the Fermanagh Feis over the years is invited to attend a Feis Ceili at 7.30pm in Bridie's, Pat's Bar, Enniskillen on Monday, May 23.
Feis stalwarts pictured with the Chair of the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Pictured from left to right: Noreen McCluskey, Councillor Erroll Thompson and Feis President Lena Corrigan.
Ann Allen, Feis Secretary said: "It's just to celebrate the 60 years and anyone who has been involved in the last 60 years, in anyway whatsoever, helping on the door or winners, are welcome to attend. It'll just be a sociable evening where we can relax and chat, and share memories."
A booklet outlining the history of the Fermanagh Feis from 1962 to 2022 has been published and will be available at the celebratory event.
SEE ALSO: Exhibition charts the popularity of Feis over 50 years - looking back
Explaining the background and context of the Feis, it notes that the word 'feis' (pronounced fesh; plural feiseanna) comes from a Gaelic word meaning 'festival' and dates back to the 1890s when it was used to describe the annual competitive cultural festivals which were founded to promote and preserve Irish culture and language.
Feis President Lena Corrigan with Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Erroll Thompson at the Civic Reception at the Ardhowen Theatre.
Competitions were typically held for essay writing, poetry and song composition, storytelling and recitation, unaccompanied solo and choral singing, solo and group dancing, and the playing of instrumental music (usually in the early days on fiddle, uilleann pipes, and harp).
Existing records indicate that the first Feis ever held in Fermanagh, in the early years of the last century, "aroused great interest at the time and did an immense amount of good in the county". It continued until the First World War when it ceased. It was revived in 1935 and carried on until the Second World War when it lapsed again. Over the following years the Feis in Fermanagh was revived and lapsed multiple times until it was formally revived in 1962 when it began as a one-day event.
Unfortunately due to the pandemic, the Fermanagh Feis is currently on a hiatus, but plans are underway for its official return in 2023.
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