From highlighting community contributions to worthy causes, raising some of the biggest issues of the day, or simply sharing something they're concerned about, our readers always have some interesting thoughts and opinions to share. Here are this week's letters.

 

Letter of The Week!

No railway for us? Let’s make Fermanagh its own nation!

Dear Sir,

When I heard the news that the new proposed [All-Island] Rail Link was not to include Fermanagh, I was not totally surprised.

The rationale by elected ministers in this case is a low population, lack of demand and weak population for not considering Fermanagh, but surely this is exactly the reason for including the county in this piece of infrastructure, amongst others? It’s called ‘Levelling Up’!

The government in Belfast of course mainly consider Fermanagh to be in the South, whilst the Dublin government believe Fermanagh to be in the South but in the North, if you catch my drift.

In reality, we exist in a parallel universe; a type of Narnia.

All this, however, makes me think of the Ealing film classic, ‘Passport to Pimlico’, where the London district’s residents decide to declare independence after discovering an old parchment declaring them a separate entity as a legal part of the House of Burgundy, therefore pitting a small group of people against the status quo.

[Might we in Fermanagh become] a totally independent nation, in which we create our own laws?

Surely some of our local historians can find – or manufacture – in the depths of Enniskillen Castle or the vaults of Enniskillen Townhall such a document? The possibilities are endless!

If all that fails, maybe we need to open up the waterways, and take up rowing!

Yours faithfully,

George Elliott,

Maguiresbridge.

 

Help the NSPCC to keep sport safe for children

Dear Sir,

The NSPCC is calling on sports and activity groups across the country to take part in this year’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign.

This annual campaign, run by the charity’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), raises awareness of safeguarding practices in sports and activities across the UK and aims to help clubs build strong relationships with parents and carers as well as children.

We’re looking to bring people together to play, chat and connect at Team Huddles throughout the summer.

Whether hosting watchalong parties for the Olympics or other major sports events, community fun days, fundraisers, or inviting the NSPCC to present safeguarding workshops, these social events are fantastic ways to help build connections and communities.

Free downloadable Team Huddle activity packs can be used as part of any event that parents and clubs already have planned.

These packs will help open conversations about safeguarding and suitable supervision to ensure the welfare and protection of young athletes, making sport a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

We’d love local clubs to share details and photos of their events with cpsu@nspcc.org.uk and also with local news and sports reporters.

Spreading the word and highlighting the work done by grassroots clubs to protect young athletes is what the campaign is all about.

These stories serve as powerful testimonials of community involvement and the collective effort to keep sports safe, help us reach a wider audience, encourage more clubs to participate, and create a safe sporting environment for all children.

To find out more about Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport, go to cpsu.org.uk, or to book an NSPCC visit to your club, email localcampaigns@nspcc.org.uk.

Yours faithfully,

Michelle North,

Head of CPSU,

NSPCC.

 

Thanks to all who supported these collections

Dear Sir,

On behalf of Fermanagh Friends of Marie Curie, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our street collections over the weekend of the Irvinestown Truckers, July 20-21.

A massive thank-you to all the wonderful volunteers who gave up their time to collect, and to all who gave so generously, resulting in us collecting £6,100.97, and €195.05.

Yours faithfully,

Marion Faris,

Chairperson,

Fermanagh Friends of Marie Curie.

 

Dear Sir,

On behalf of The Oisín McGrath Foundation, I would like to thank all those who supported the street collection in Enniskillen on St. Patrick’s Day earlier this year.

A special thanks to the PSNI, Project St. Patrick and the collectors.

£1,622.17 was raised, which will support the work of the Foundation.

Yours faithfully,

Lauri McCusker,

Director of the Fermanagh Trust,

Fermanagh House, Enniskillen,

Administrators of The Oisín McGrath Foundation.

 

Dear Sir,

On behalf of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland Enniskillen branch, I would like to thank County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge for choosing our charity to collect on The Twelfth of July in Irvinestown.

Sincere thanks to the generous public on the day who enabled us to collect the sum of £4,350. We are delighted with this amount.

A special thank-you goes to our dedicated volunteer collectors who so willingly gave of their time on The Twelfth.

The money will remain in Fermanagh and go towards the first Cancer Focus regional hub currently under construction in Enniskillen.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland supports cancer patients, carers and their families.

Yours faithfully,

Barbara Brand,

Branch Secretary.

 

Dear Sir,

The family and friends of Oisin Gregg would like to thank all for their very kind generosity at the fundraising car run held in Belleek on Sunday, August 4.

This was held in Oisin’s memory to celebrate his birthday. The amazing total of £6,000 was raised and kindly accepted by Air Ambulance NI.

Yours faithfully,

Aoife Gregg (Oisin’s sister),

Belleek.

NSPCC.