Community heroes celebrated at South West College event

The event followed a public call for nominations which resulted in dozens of worthy submissions received from across the region.

Hosted by students taking part in the college’s Culinary Arts programmes, the event featured a menu specially designed for the evening, celebrating the finest local produce.

The 16 community heroes invited to the event were recognised for the efforts they have made to improve the lives of those around them, whether at home, in their local community, in their workplace, sports club, school or health care setting.

They were Niall McPartland, Rosie Breen, Cecilia Burns, Rev. Lorna Dreaning, Peter Gallagher, Janice Gurney, Patty Magee, Geraldine McBride, David McDermott, Sarah McKiernan, Laura McLaughlin, Davy Phair, Charlotte Quinn, Mark Robinson, Bernie Smith and Winnie Tunney.

During the event, The Impartial Reporter spoke to some of the community heroes and those who nominated them.

Mark Robinson from Lisbellaw was nominated by Heather Humphreys. Talking about Mark's work in his local community, Heather said: "Mark has just taken on board everything that needs doing around Lisbellaw.

"We really felt that he was battling along on his own and he just has a real interest, bringing planning applications to people's attentions, and he is just generally interested in the community.

"He is very aligned to my own interests and I thought, 'Mark is the man for the job'."

Commenting that the nomination came as a shock to him, Mark added: "I feel honoured, to be honest. It's one of those things that you don't think what you are doing is making a difference, but obviously it makes a difference to other people, so to be nominated and recognised for that is great."

Celia Burns and Rosie Breen, both special needs classroom assistants at Holy Trinity Primary School in Enniskillen, were recognised for how they "quietly and without any fuss" supported many children and their families through their unselfish work and care during the pandemic.

Speaking to this newspaper, Celia said she was "absolutely delighted and totally overwhelmed" to have been nominated.

"We just do what we do. We are a great team in Holy Trinity, so we just do what we normally do – we all pull together. We made sure the children were in a really safe, caring environment."

Rev. Lorna Dreaning said that her community hero nomination was "quite a surprise".

Talking about her work as a minister during the pandemic, Rev. Dreaning said: "We had been very busy during lockdown; we weren't in lockdown ourselves, we were sort of on the front line the whole way through it.

"We were doing food banks and helping schools with computers.

"We went online then and did a lot of services, keeping everyone entertained as much as we could. There were a lot of people who were grieving, a lot of people with dementia who were glad of the contact."

Peter Gallagher from Boho supported members of his local community through the pandemic by donating trays of eggs on a weekly basis to be distributed free of charge.

"I supplied eggs out to young families who, during the pandemic, were doing some extra baking.

"I didn't think it was much, but people enjoyed them," he said, noting that he also provided eggs for a community food bank that helped support vulnerable people in the area.

Peter was keen to remain anonymous and was, and still is, modest about his role at that time. On being nominated as a community hero, Peter said: "It's nice to be appreciated."

Davy Phair is a volunteer trustee for ‘The Pantry’, Lisnaskea. He delivered food parcels to those who were vulnerable, isolating and in need throughout Fermanagh during the pandemic, and he assisted the Council with its parcel distribution.

Talking to this newspaper at the celebratory event, Davy modestly noted his shock at being nominated as a community hero, saying it was "unexpected".

Through the pandemic, Patty Magee continued her work as a community carer. Patty was nominated as a community hero by her daughter, Lorraine, who said: "I nominated my mum because she has been a carer in the community for a long number of years now.

"It's a job she really loves and puts a lot in to. I know a lot of people she has cared for in the past have really appreciated her.

"She is such a quiet and unassuming lady, but a total warrior when it comes to the care of others," she said.

As a community pharmacist in Belcoo, Niall McPartland kept the pharmacy open and the community safe throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am delighted to have been nominated, it is a privilege and an honour. For me, I work as part of a team, so it's representing everybody," he told The Impartial Reporter.

The Celebrating Heroes evening also coincided with the end of the first academic year in the new campus building, which has received international acclaim since doors opened last September.

Reflecting on the special gourmet dining event, Carol Viney, Campus Manager, noted that it celebrated just a few of those community heroes nominated by their friends, family members and colleagues and was a fitting way to say thank-you for their efforts, and also to mark the closing of another academic year.