A fabulous afternoon was had at Carrybridge last Saturday where the West Islanders hosted a day of heritage activities and traditional cot racing – the first on this part of the lough since the 1800s.

Throughout the day, eight teams raced in the West Island cots, to the roar and support of the watching crowds and fellow competitors.

As part of the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership scheme, and supported by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, The West Islanders group had recently revived the traditions of cot building, with volunteers learning the skills of boat building and constructing two traditional cots.

The cots were constructed under the expert tuition of Liam Boyle and the late Fred Ternan to traditional cot designs. The regatta celebrated the achievements of the volunteers and was hosted in memory of Fred, who was instrumental in the cot building project.

The group were delighted to welcome Florence Ternan to present the Fred Ternan Memorial Shield to the winning team, The Loughsiders (Gabriel Fitzpatrick, Damien O’Keefe and Peter Dixon), with the runners-up Carrybridge Boat Company (Robert McLean, Ross McLean and Richard Hicks).

Throughout the day, spectators were treated to a diverse range of music, including traditional Irish and folk music from Derek Maguire and friends, Clabby Pipe Band and Belle Isle flute band.

Adults and children enjoyed face painting, displays from the WW1 Society, Ulster Scots, Lisnaskea Historical Society, the RNLI, and the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, and many availed of lovely food from the Carrybridge Hotel.

Members of Ballyshannon Drama Society dressed up as vintage era characters in some finery, mingling with the crowd and distributing scrolls on the history of cot racing in the 19th Century, and the history of the Cathcart family, who resided on the West Island.

The Cathcart family have been building and racing cots since the 1800s and Andrew Cathcart carries on the family tradition as part of the West Island group.

Elmarie Swanepoel, Programme Manager of the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, said: “The Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, supported from funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, are delighted to be able to support the groups to revive the traditional cot here in County Fermanagh.

“Today is a celebration of the work of the volunteers of the West Island Group who have come together to construct these fantastic boats and keep the traditional boat building methods of their ancestors alive here on Lough Erne.

“A huge thank-you to everyone who made the day a success, including St/ John’s Ambulance, who were present throughout the afternoon, and Mr. Ronnie Crawford for the use of Carrybridge.”

The regatta would not have been possible without the funding support of the National Lottery Award for All, the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the support of Kellie Beacom, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.