The new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has revealed his Fermanagh roots.

Through his mother, Hilary Benn has ancestral links to the Rosslea area, something which he spoke of when he made his first visit to Fermanagh and first visit west of the Bann as Secretary of State.   Mr. Benn revealed his links while visiting Irvinestown as part of the Twelfth of July celebrations alongside Junior Minister, Fleur Anderson MP the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office.

He spoke of his “personal pilgrimage” as part of his visit to Northern Ireland.

His mother’s great-grandfather’s name is inscribed on a headstone at Holy Trinity Church, Clogh, near Rosslea, which he later visited.

He said: “I'm going off later to find the gravestone on which the name of my mother's great grandfather is to be found near Rosslea also in County Fermanagh. this is also a slight personal pilgrimage today, as well as coming here to join in the celebrations.”

 

In a post on X (formally Twitter), he said: “Just visited Holy Trinity Church in Clogh, Co. Fermanagh where my great, great grandfather Dr Thomas Graydon is remembered on the family gravestone.

“He was born in Roslea in 1850 but, like so many others, emigrated to the United States where he died in 1900, age 49.

In a further post, he added: “A great pleasure to meet Church Army Minister Captain David Hamilton whose church this is. And what a beautiful and peaceful landscape surrounds it.”

Mr. Benn was in County Fermanagh as part of Twelfth of July celebrations, his first stop of the day was in Irvinestown where he met County Grand Master, Mervyn Byers and several other guests including officers of the County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge, the chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor John McClaughry; Archdeacon Canon Paul Thompson, Rector of Derryvullen North and Castle Archdale; representatives of Orangism from around the world and members of Ardess Accordion Band and Drumharvey Pipe Band.

He was very personable with those he met and appeared interested in their various roles asking about their length of service, and their background and also asking about the choice of tartan for Drumharvey's kilt.

He received a warm welcome from the ladies who had prepared tea for the visitors, calling in to see them in the kitchen of the hall of Derryvullen North Church where he met the guests before joining Mr. Byers for a cup of tea.

He mingled with the crowd as he watched the parade in Irvinestown alongside Ms. Anderson.

Speaking before the parade he said: “It was a great pleasure to meet everyone here. I'm looking forward to seeing the parade to see this celebration of culture and history.”

Mr. Benn explained that this was his first time attending the Twelfth of July in Northern Ireland.

He said he was looking forward to “watching the celebration of culture and history in a family-friendly way".

Reflecting on the Twelfth of July, he said: “It’s really important that all of us, from whatever community we come from, whatever background, are able to celebrate our culture and do so in a way that is inclusive and not exclusive.

"I am sure that I will see that here today and that is partly why I have come to Irvinestown."