The joy of newly formed friendships and common purpose was much in evidence when members of Soroptimist International Enniskillen and District welcomed a group of sister Soroptimists to Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre at the beginning of this month.

Some 32 Soroptimists from the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and Holland were touring West and Northern Ireland after attending the four-day quadricentennial Soroptimist International Convention in Dublin, which took place at the end of July.

Belleek Pottery had been factored in as a stopover between Sligo and Londonderry, with Enniskillen members playing host during lunch in the world-famous pottery’s charming café and a visit to the museum archive and shop.

The visitors appreciated the warm welcome from Visitor Centre Manager, Patricia McAuley, and the beauty of the iconic pottery, so prized by collectors around the world.

They also enjoyed the chat and laughter with Enniskillen members.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls.

It consists of five federations worldwide: Africa, the Americas, Europe, Great Britain and Ireland, and the South East Asia Pacific, whose president was amongst the touring party.

This was the first time that the convention – which is held at a different location around the world every four years – had been held in Ireland, with some 1,700 Soroptimists in attendance.

Entitled ‘Challenging the Future’, it included a number of outstanding speakers, including the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson.

The Enniskillen club’s President, Lorna Dane, attended the convention along with club Secretary, Margaret Read.

Lorna said: "After such a thought-provoking and demanding few days it was wonderful to be able to welcome some of our sister Soroptimists to the green tranquillity of Fermanagh.

"I’d like to thank our members for giving such a warm Fermanagh welcome to the visitors, and especially to Evelyn Hassard for organising the visit."