Council seeks Centenarians to assist with project to mark centenary of Northern Ireland

As part of Fermanagh Omagh District Council’s plans to mark the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland in 1921, the Council is seeking assistance from centenarians or those who will reach the age of 100 or over in 2021 and who live or were born in the district, to work on a shared reminiscence project.

The aim of the project is to provide a lasting legacy of stories told by people who were born in Northern Ireland 100 years ago by recording the life stories of those born in Northern Ireland 100 years ago and their experiences.  To date 3 participants have been interviewed and reminisces have been captured.

Speaking about the project, the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong said;

“The decade between 1912 and 1922 featured many seminal moments in our shared history and it is right that we remember them based on historical accuracy, their impact and consequences, and through mutual understanding and respect in the context of an inclusive and accepting society.

People who have already celebrated or are celebrating their own centenary this year have a valuable collection of memories and experiences to share with us. Their lives have been book-ended by global pandemics – the so-called Spanish Flu of 1918/19 and the Covid-19 pandemic which we are currently living through – not to mention a world war and major technological and scientific advances. It would for example have required a massive leap of faith to believe that a man would set foot on the moon less than 50 years after they were born.

After all they have lived through, The Centenarian Project presents a wonderful opportunity for our centenarians to commit to record, their stories and recollections of what life was like in the Fermanagh and Omagh District, and the changes they have experienced over the last 100 years, focussing on areas such as health, education, agriculture and sport. I would encourage centenarians and their families to take part in what is a very important living history project and share with us their life experiences so that we have a permanent, first-hand account of life in the Fermanagh and Omagh district in the last 100 years.”

A few of the district’s centenarians have already shared some of their experiences as part of the project.

Giving advice on how to live a long and happy life Mrs Evie Bowles (100) from Lisnaskea recommends starting each day with a bowl of porridge and then to sing a hymn.  Mrs Bowles’ late husband also lived to the age of 102 so that seems to be an excellent recipe for long life.  An extremely hard-working couple they ran their own shop in Newtownbutler with hardware and grocery mobile shops which allowed country people to avail of “click and collect” long before it was fashionable.

Mr Bob Lingwood MM, BEM, MTI, from Omagh turns 103 later this year.  Having lived for 50 years in London before moving to Omagh he feels his life experience has had the best of both worlds.  Mr Lingwood describes how life in London in his youth was fast paced with opportunities to experience close by theatre, museum, education and other facilities.   He also played football and continues to be an avid Chelsea supporter. After marrying a local girl, Bob was happy to move to Northern Ireland settling in Omagh. He finds life in Omagh is much more community centred and as someone who describes himself as “liking people – it’s a gift” he is very much at home in the area.  Mr Lingwood ran a successful factory in Omagh for many years employing local people.  He was in many ways a visionary, ahead of his time, ensuring his workforce adhered to equality in the workplace with no emblems displayed which could be deemed sectarian.  Now retired, but still very active in a number of community organisations, Bob hasn’t let restrictions introduced to help curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, impact too much on his social life.  Continuing to attend meetings and events on zoom for the many groups that he is involved with, he has embraced digital connectivity.

Mrs Pauline Brown from Newtownbutler turns 100 later this year.  A resident in Colorado Nursing Home, Mrs Brown is also embracing technology with an Alexa installed in her room and communicating with her nephew using a tablet. Having started school writing with chalk and slate, Mrs Brown says that embracing new technology only serves to highlight the vast changes she has seen in her lifetime.  The daughter of a customs man Mrs Brown has many stories about smuggling goods across the border.  While attending Mount Lourdes School in Enniskillen, she regularly took the train from Newtownbutler to Enniskillen and loved to go to the shops in town with friends when she could.   Mrs Brown says that she is continuing her long and happy life as they “forgot to send the bus for her”.

These stories along with many more will be woven into a final project as part of a wider series of events which the Council has developed.  These events will mark the centenary of the founding of Northern Ireland following the passing of the Government of Ireland Act in December 1920 and will include direct delivery and providing support to third party organisations. Events and activities will focus on aspects of life in Fermanagh and Omagh over the last 100 years.

To take part in the Centenarian Project, if you or a family member are turning or 100 in 2021 or have already reached that milestone and reside in the Fermanagh Omagh District Council please contact age.friendly@fermanaghomagh.com for more information.

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