Help Capture the Story of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum
25th April 2025
With the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum preparing to close its doors on 30 April 2025 for a major redevelopment programme to create a new state of the art leisure, health and wellbeing hub, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is inviting customers, past and present, to help capture its story to date, through a special Oral History project.
To mark this important milestone, members of the public are encouraged to visit an exhibition now open in the reception area at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, running until 30 April. The display features photographs, memorabilia and stories from the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum’s rich past as well as images of its bright, new future.
As part of this initiative, anyone with memories of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum is also invited to share their story in person at the centre on Wednesday 30 April from 1pm to 4pm.
Members of the Council’s Museum and Heritage team will be on hand to record memories, personal thoughts and reflections for the Oral History archive which will help to tell the story of the Lakeland Forum through the voices of those who have been part of its journey from 1976 to now.
Whether you learned to swim at the Forum, played in a local league, or have fond memories of events at the centre, your stories are a vital part of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum’s rich and shared history.
Emma McManus, Centre Manager at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, said:
“The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum has meant so much to so many people over the years; through sport, friendships and community. As we look ahead to the development of a new state-of-the-art facility, this Oral History project gives us a chance to reflect on the past and celebrate the support that the Forum has received from the local community for almost 50 years. We would love as many people as possible with a connection to the Forum, past and present, to get involved in this project so that their memories and voices are part of the legacy of this chapter of the Forum.”
For anyone unable to visit the centre on 30 April, there will be further opportunities to share their story as part of the Oral History project during the redevelopment works. People can also share their written memories and reflections by emailing the Council’s Museum and Heritage team at fvic@fermanaghomagh.com.
The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum is closing at 4pm on 30 April 2025 for three years for a major redevelopment to replace the existing building with a modern leisure facility designed to support healthy lifestyles and community activities, providing inclusive and accessible spaces for people of all ages. It will be the first Passivhaus standard leisure facility in Northern Ireland, bringing the highest environmental and sustainability standards to the design and build.
The highly innovative project includes funding of £20m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and represents the most significant capital investment ever undertaken by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council with a total project cost of £70million. Further information is available on the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council website.