Council appoints Digital Remembering Officer

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has appointed a new Digital Remembering Officer, on secondment until March 2022 through the Shared History Fund.

The remit of the Digital Remembering Officer, who will be based at Fermanagh County Museum, will be to work with individuals and local people and community groups locally, to record stories and memories of the past through video, oral histories and online resources.

Focusing on local life and events 100 years ago, access will be offered to interested parties to museum collections, equipment, training and support for communities wishing to record their heritage for posterity. All work will be underpinned by ‘The Principles of Remembering’, developed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with the Community Relations Council, to help navigate difficult history and encompass a range of perspectives.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has been awarded £38,000 for the Digital Remembering Initiative through the Shared History Fund. The Shared History Fund, which The National Lottery Heritage Fund is distributing on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office, supports groups in marking the Centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021 in a thoughtful, inclusive and engaging way.

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Errol Thompson said;

“We’re grateful to the Northern Ireland Office and The National Lottery Heritage

Fund for making funding available through the Shared History Fund to enable Fermanagh and Omagh District Council tot resource this important role. As a consequence of this generous allocation, the Council will be able to share some

untold stories about Northern Ireland’s history and mark the Centenary of Northern Ireland in a way that will commit our history to record for future generations to enjoy.”

Mukesh Sharma, Chair, Northern Ireland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

“As a leading funder of heritage throughout the UK, we understand the central role that heritage plays in people’s lives and their communities. We also recognise that there are aspects of heritage that can be challenging.

However, our experience in supporting partners to navigate difficult periods in our history throughout the Decade of Centenaries demonstrates that there is a way to engage with difficult heritage in a positive way. No one narrative is more important than another, and it’s important we create a space that allows a range of stories to be told.

We’re delighted to be delivering this funding on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office and have supported projects which will not only mark the Centenary but will show how we can engage with difficult heritage going forward.”

To contact the Council’s Digital Remembering Officer, Julian Thornton, to express interest in finding out more about available resources and support through the Digital Remembering Initiative, please email: castle@fermanaghomagh.com or telephone the Museum & Heritage Service on +44 (0)28 66325000.