The daughter of the late Dr. Denis Parsons Burkitt has spoken of the “extraordinary privilege” of having her father remembered in Fermanagh.

A plaque to commemorate the home of Dr. Burkitt was unveiled on Saturday afternoon at Alexandra Terrace, Enniskillen where the surgeon had lived.

His legacy lives on around the world, as the pioneering surgeon’s achievements not only included being the first person to diagnose Burkitt’s lymphoma, but he is also recognised as the first person to make the link between fibre and healthy eating, among his other laudable achievements.

Dr. Burkitt’s daughter, Rev. Judy Burkitt Howard, was in attendance for the plaque’s unveiling. Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, she said: “It was an extraordinary privilege to be there, and it was very moving.

“It was like we had completed a cycle, as no matter wherever we travelled in the world – and my dad did travel, enormously – Enniskillen was always home for him.”

Love for Enniskillen

Expressing her father’s love for Enniskillen, Rev. Burkitt Howard said: “The heart for him was always in Enniskillen or at Laragh House, Trory. Seeing his name in Enniskillen is very special. It felt like he had come home. It feels really complete.

“He has been honoured in all sorts of places across the world, but the only place he really would like to be [honoured in] is Enniskillen.”

Thanking everyone for their welcome, Rev. Burkitt Howard continued: “I’d love to thank everybody. We have always felt an extraordinary welcome [here].

“The Sunday before [the unveiling] I was asked to preach at St. Michael’s Church, Trory, and the people who turned out in Trory were so kind and had lovely memories of my grandparents, who are buried there.

“There were people there who remembered them and were taught by them in Sunday school. It is an extraordinary place. It was a great honour. I have a very full-up heart and lots of gratitude [from the visit].”

She noted that she enjoyed meetings with people who had connections to her father and her grandparents on the day of the unveiling of the plaque, and was greatly touched to hear all of their memories.

Prior to the unveiling of the plaque, there was a key note address held in Enniskillen Royal Grammar School at the Cooper Crescent site.

Special guests, including Dr. Parson Burkitt’s biographer, Prof. John H. Cummings from the University of Dundee, and Prof. Owen Smith, of Trinity College Dublin, addressed those gathered.