New Trades Union exhibition launches at Enniskillen Castle Museums

16th October 2019

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A new exhibition focussing on how workers in Fermanagh organised themselves industrially and politically over the course of the last two centuries was officially opened at Enniskillen Castle Museums on Friday 11 October 2019.

The exhibition, “Struggling Workers; A History of Trade Unionism in Fermanagh” was curated by local Trade Union activist, Jim Quinn and officially opened by Enniskillen born, trade unionist Tommy Campbell, who had travelled from his home in Aberdeen for the launch.

Speaking at the launch event, the Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong said “ This exhibition through the use of emblems, objects and extracts from the local press, traces the role and history of trades Unions locally going back to 1826 and highlights an often-forgotten part of our heritage. Almost 200 years later, Trade Unionism in Fermanagh is still alive and well and playing a key role in the protection and promotion of workers’ rights.”

Jim Quinn, Centenary co-ordinator with Fermanagh Council of Trades Unions said “This collaboration with Enniskillen Castle Museum represents the first time we have been able to make nearly 200 years of local workers history available to the general public. We hope Local History enthusiasts, teachers and students will take the opportunity in the coming weeks to visit the exhibition. It will be an opportunity to see first-hand the struggles of your family friends and maybe relations to make Fermanagh a better place.”

Fermanagh County Museum is indebted to the Crowes Nest, Enniskillen, Bernadette Layden, Enniskillen and Selwyn Johnston, Headhunters Railway Museum for the loan of items to supplement those from the Fermanagh County Museum collections and Jim Quinn for the exhibition.

The “Struggling Workers: A History of Trade Unionism in Fermanagh” exhibition continues at Fermanagh County Museum until 25 January 2020. Normal opening times and admission rates to the Museum apply. For further information please visit www.enniskillencastle.co.uk or telephone 028 6632 5000.