Residents in the Border community of Newtownbutler are strong in their belief that more investment should be put into the area.

Many of those that we spoke to were disappointed at how their once thriving village has faded. However, the community is still present and the green shoots of regeneration are underway with several initiatives.

At the heart of the community is the Credit Union - it is a busy office and opens three days a week.

Founding members Phil McGovern and Veronica Reilly, who have volunteered with the branch for over 30 years, explained how the Credit Union plays a “central part” in the community.

Mr. McGovern said: “The Credit Union is busy and has given £4 million in loans around the town here.

“It is a central part of the community.”

They noted that the landscape in which it opened has changed especially given the loss of banks in Lisnaskea and the use of the internet.

“It opened in 1993 and there were three banks in Skea at that time.”

Ms Reilly added: “The Credit Union is based on volunteers, all from the community and we need more people to come along.”

Both live outside the village and have a fondness for the area with Ms Reilly adding: “I have lived here all my life and would not want to live anywhere else.

“It’s a very friendly place, there is a lovely community spirit.”

She praised the work of the community development association for the area which she and others believe “put in a lot of effort”.

“We have a good community development association and a lot of people put in a lot of work and a lot of effort voluntarily.

“At Easter, they had an egg hunt for the children, they had a Mr. and Mrs. competition, which was good fun – we learned a lot about people we hadn’t known before.

“At Christmas, Santa comes along and has a party for the kids, the Christmas tree and lights and everything is organised by them.

“What used to be the police barracks, there are allotments in there and lovely displays of flowers that are all done by the community association.”

She noted there are other amenities such as the local schools, a busy playgroup and Sure Start [a government initiative for families with children and babies under four years of age].

When asked what could be done to help improve the village and community, Ms Reilly said: “Money will always be of use no matter what community you are in and if you had a lot of money they would be able to do a lot with the town.”

Mr. McGovern added: “The town needs funding, up that street, all of those houses are lying derelict almost every one of them.”

When asked about what is good about the village, Ms Reilly praised the work of the local pharmacy: “I have to say Hughes Pharmacy is unbelievable, without them we would be totally lost.

“The staff in there are absolutely fantastic and look after the community really well.”

On the outskirts of the village lies the site for Testall.

Operated by Managing Director Damien Jordan, the site offers a range of services and not only is it unique for the area.

“We are the only commercial test geology laboratory in the country. Any other outfits are subcontracted to the UK.”

Explaining the work role he said: “It is quality control for the construction industry with laboratory field testing for civil engineering and field works in the laboratory and the field.

“We are dealing with a lot of the issues with housing issues in the country, mica, pyrite, and pyrrhotite.”

Dual accreditation for the Republic of Ireland and the UK attracted Mr. Jordan to Newtownbutler allowing the company to work across the island of Ireland. They also have a base in Dublin.

“We have been here since 2015, we have blended into the community here, we are still early here. We have 20 staff here and currently, we are recruiting for more.

“Generally we try and get people from the local workforce or else someone who is within commuting distance.”

The pharmacy was very busy with residents calling in to lift their prescriptions or get some advice.

When asked what is good about the area, Claire Mullaney said: “We have a great football team and two good shops in Newtown and a great community.”

She added with a laugh: “And a great pharmacy.”

She praised the area as somewhere to grow up as a child: “[It was] great to grow up and all the people I grew up with and played outside with were all good. We had a great play park.”

Claire praised the initiatives that are happening now in the village: “There are community classes every week. There is Bingo, Zumba and all that sort of stuff.

“You can get food in the pub now, too.”

When asked what could be improved in the area she said: “There are a lot of empty buildings but they are building houses down by the skip.”

One of the residents of Main Street recalled how she came to the village 50 years ago from the Knocks, Lisnaskea for a “nice man”.

Peggy McNamee recalled how the town has changed since.

“It was busy the time the railway was here. It was a great town and then the customs came in and they are all gone now.”

She too commented on the derelict buildings and mentioned a particular annoyance at the former Lanesborough Arms hotel which is now dormant and derelict.

“The hotel was wrecked. It was a lovely place, you couldn’t have got better in Belfast.

“It is all boarded up now.”

She praised the local community and stated: “ There are lovely friendly people in Newtownbutler.

“[It is a] good place for children growing up. It is a quiet place.”

When asked how the area could be improved, she said: “Where is the money?

“It’s the money it needs.”