The King and The Queen visit Enniskillen Castle
25th May 2023
Their Majesties The King and The Queen visited the historic Enniskillen Castle today as part of a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.
The King and The Queen were officially welcomed to Enniskillen Castle by Vice Lord Lieutenant of Co Fermanagh, Mrs Jane Styles, High Sheriff for Co. Fermanagh, Ms Noelle McAlinden, Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Allan Rainey and Alison McCullagh, Chief Executive of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council while accompanied by Lord and Lady Brookeborough.
Their Majesties spent time in the Castle Courtyard where they enjoyed entertainment from local choirs, Caritas, and the Cantabile Community Choir, which was recently formed, performing for the first time on the Coronation bank holiday weekend. They then met with local representatives from The Kindness Postbox, and spoke with local people involved in the Big Lunch, a UK-wide initiative that brings neighbours and communities together to share friendship, food and fun.
His Majesty met a number of local community health and wellbeing groups, and initiatives, that provide a range of services and support for local communities such as, Bright Starz, Healthy Living Centres, foodbanks, local cancer charities, Ellie’s Retreat, and local volunteering organisations including South West Acute Hospital Volunteering and Lower Erne Community First Responders, to name but a few. The King also spoke with clergy from the Fermanagh Churches’ Forum.
The Queen also met schoolchildren from Enniskillen Model, Enniskillen Integrated, Holy Trinity, Jones Memorial and Willowbridge primary schools where she saw first-hand a range of creative pieces the children had designed and made to mark the visit of the King and Queen. The Queen also met representatives from various heritage organisations including Fermanagh County Museum and Fermanagh Genealogy.
The King met with the Inniskillings Museum, the Department of Environment’s Historic Environment and the Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers and the 5th Royal Inniskillen Dragoon Guards.
Their Majesties were treated to a specially commissioned joint performance of Irish and Highland dancing, displaying the area’s rich dance history and heritage, before being presented with a Coronation Basket by Councillor Allan Rainey, Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, especially made for the visit by Belleek Pottery.
The King and The Queen then made their way to water’s edge of the River Erne where they received a lively welcome from a flotilla of water vessels sounding their horns and whistles. They also spoke with tourism representatives and local people representing various environmental and agricultural organisations and initiatives including the Fermanagh’s Young Farmers, Fermanagh Bee Keepers and other representatives displaying farming rural heritage and environment including McMahon’s Spades, RSPB and the Geopark, before meeting members of local Girl guiding units and Scout packs.
Their Majesties then spent some time speaking with crowds of well-wishers, before their departure.
Speaking after the visit of Their Majesties to Enniskillen, Vice-Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Allan Rainey said:
“It was an honour and a privilege to welcome Their Majesties The King and The Queen to Enniskillen Castle. Today’s event was a wonderful celebration of our people, our stunning, world renowned natural environment and our rich and diverse history and heritage.”