Links to the Lough Peace IV Project
31st May 2019
As part of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s ‘Links Across the Lough’ Peace IV programme, an important part of the county’s history was re-enacted on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 of May when members of Lough Erne Heritage recreated the journey of St Ninnidh across Lough Erne.
This project is supported by the European Union’s Peace IV Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The “Links Across the Lough” programme is one of 16 projects identified in the Fermanagh and Omagh PEACE IV Local Action Plan to benefit from a total funding package of £2.8m to deliver projects across three key strands: Shared Spaces and Services, Children and Young People and Building Positive Relations at a Local Level. It focused on the enriched historical and cultural heritage of the Upper Lough Erne region.
As part of the programme, local communities came together to witness three Lough Erne wooden Cots recreate the journey undertaken by St Ninnidh following his fast on Knockninny Hill in the 6th Century to his monastic settlement on Lower Lough Erne’s Inishmacsaint.
On Saturday, rowers travelled from Knockninny Quay to Bellanaleck and Enniskillen on the first leg of their journey. On Sunday, rowers were joined by crews from Belturbet Rowing Club as they continued their journey from Enniskillen towards Inishmacsaint.
The recreation of this special event was the idea of Liam Boyle who built his own Lough Erne Cot. Speaking about the Saint, Liam said,
‘St Ninnidh was a 6th Century Irish Saint, regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is associated with an area between Bundoran in Co. Donegal and Knockninny in Co. Fermanagh along the River Erne system’
The ‘Links Across the Lough’ programme allows people to come together to explore and celebrate the Lough. The recreation of the journey of St Ninnidh is just one in a series of events which will run from May – September 2019. Activities include regattas, trips and reminiscence/educational projects.
Insight Solutions have been appointed to manage this project on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in partnership with Lough Erne Heritage.
To register your interest in the programme or for further details on future events, please contact Wendy Salt at Insight Solutions by email: wendy@insight-solutions.org.
Match-funding has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
