Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to celebrate Purple Flag status during the month of October.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will be taking part in the official annual celebration of the Purple Flag programme which is taking place throughout the month of October.

The purple flag initiative recognises excellence in the management of evening and night-time business and recognises the value of late night business to the local economy.

As part of the celebrations, the Council will mark the positive contribution of the night-time economy in Enniskillen and Omagh by lighting up Enniskillen Castle and the Strule Arts Centre Omagh, purple, each Saturday throughout the month of October. Local shops and businesses in the Purple Flag areas of both towns will also have the opportunity to acknowledge the benefits of Purple Flag status by displaying a sticker in their shop fronts.

Speaking about the benefits of  Purple Flag accreditation, the Council Chair, Councillor Siobhán Currie, said “Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is delighted that the district’s two principal towns, Enniskillen and Omagh, enjoy Purple Flag status which recognises the quality of the night-time entertainment, the exceptional hospitality and the provision of a safe night out for visitors and locals in both towns. It is important also to acknowledge that the sector is also a significant employer in the district and provides a livelihood for restaurant, nightlife and bar staff in the Purple flag areas in Omagh and Enniskillen.”

  The Purple Flag programme is run by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM). Ojay McDonald, CEO of the ATCM said:

“There now are over 70 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland who are proudly flying the Purple Flag after working hard to gain accreditation.The award is not just about safety, but also the vibrancy and diversity of the evening and night-time offer — this can only be achieved by people working together and across the country we are seeing some amazing examples of this type of partnership working.It is great to see so many towns and cities really celebrating their Purple Flag achievement and putting so much effort into the celebrations.”

October offers a wide variety of options for those wishing to enjoy the evening and night time economy in Enniskillen and Omagh including FLive 2019, The Omagh Literary Festival and the Space Age Halloween Fireworks Events taking place in both Enniskillen and Omagh on 31st October 2019 from 6pm to 9pm. Further information on all events across the district can be found on the Councils website fermanaghomagh.com.

For more information about Purple Flag please contact Sarah Walker, Purple Flag Programme Manager using sarah.walker@atcm.org