FODC Capital Works Overview

Enniskillen Workhouse Project saw the Entrance Block being sympathetically restored, conserving its important historic features, highlighting its fascinating history, and offering a modern business enterprise facility and heritage hub on this landmark site.  This project was made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarding funding of £2.3m together with match funding contributions of £231,935 each from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and South West College,   

The dedicated heritage space includes stories of some of the people who lived and died in the Workhouse. These former residents have now been given a voice to tell their stories through a mixed-use exhibition, reminiscence, display area and a dedicated heritage trail.  

In addition, and looking to a positive sustainable future, part of the Workhouse has been transformed into a modern business innovation and enterprise hub.   The business hub contains co-working desks, private office, event and meeting spaces, with desks available to hire on a part-time and full-time basis.  

The Workhouse is now open weekdays for self-guided tours. For guided tours, please contact Enniskillen Castle Museum on 028 6632 3142.  

To apply to become a business member, and benefit from the facilities, support and mentoring that on offer in the Workhouse, please visit  www.theworkhouseenniskillen.com . 

The Council has been working through a lengthy and robust process regarding Necarne Estate in Irvinestown, to ensure that a long term sustainable use can be established for this beautiful yet underutilised estate that will bring social, economic and environmental benefits to the local community and the district.

The completion of the first phase of works for Necarne Castle required the completion of a number of stages so that the vegetation could be removed and the historical stonework be revealed.

The Council is committed to achieving a long-term sustainable use for the Necarne Estate that will benefit the local area and the wider district and looks forward to completing the lease process.  The proposal has the potential to transform the estate into one which, through substantial private investment, attracts employment and visitors and preserves and enhances the heritage and natural environment to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Next phase of works included the stabilisation of the castle walls and rooms

The Last Phase of the Current Works Involved Improving the access to the Castle itself

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has invested just over £3m in transforming Gorton Glen Forest Park into a must visit family-friendly destination attraction for the entire Council and indeed the Sperrins region.

Examples of this investment included the creation of 13km of red and blue grade Mountain Bike Trails, extension of the walking trails offering the option of 8 way marked routes over 20km in length, 8km of horse riding trails, a destination play facility including space of those with complex needs, sculpture trail and interpretative panels linked to the school curriculum, upgrading of the café, toilets and forest classroom, enhanced vehicle parking and the most recent being the installation of “Darach” one of the three Giant Sculptures in the Sperrins.

The forest park has become a hub for the local community. The Gortin Mountain Bike Club was established as a direct result of the MTB trails being created. More organised walks are now taking place in the forest. Increased numbers from schools use the classroom while on their visit and a new visitor attraction and caravan park has opened opposite the park as a direct result of the developments and several planning applications for “glamp sites” are in the planning system.

Re-utilising this community resource, has allowed locals and visitors to take advantage of the emotional and physical benefits of playing, walking, cycling and running through the forest environment on safe way-marked trails and destination play facility to help dwell time on the site.

Improving the health and wellbeing of all our citizens is one of the priorities of the Council and the Fermanagh and Omagh 2030 Community Plan. The Council recognises the importance of providing well-equipped, safe, attractive, and accessible facilities for all to get active while having fun.

The estimated number of visitors was 35,000 in 2018 but after the Council’s investment, over 160,000 visitors was recorded in 2022.

An Expression of Interest to DAERA Rural Tourism Scheme for a collaborative application for the Sperrins Sculpture Trail was granted approval in 2018.

The project was identified as a key flagship project and economic driver to deliver upon the strategic aims articulated by each of the three partner councils of Fermanagh and Omagh, Mid Ulster and Derry City and Strabane District.  

The aim of the programme’s Rural Tourism Scheme was to support investment in natural and built heritage projects that have the potential to encourage rural tourism particularly that derived from out of state visitors, whilst preserving the natural assets of the rural community.

The tender submission from McGurk’s Architects and Thomas Dambo was successful and completed the three installations in 2023.

Fermangh and Omagh Council is dedicated to providing leisure facilities to improve the health and wellbeing of its residents, the maintenance and redevelopment of MUGAs is an important step to ensure these facilities are safe and useable for all residents.

Newtownbutler

These 3 sites that have benefited from recent upgrades which included: resurfacing, drainage and sub base works, to help improve their quality

The redevelopment of Lisnaskea HRC involved developing an efficient and improved user safety HRC with separation between the public and the FODC waste removal operations and a one-way system for entering and exiting the site making the facility much safer for public use. A new staff multi functional welfare building was built on site. The redevelopment was undertaken on a restricted site for space and challenging ground conditions that required part of the reinforced concrete structures to be built on piled foundations and specialist drainage infrastructure. The existing building and structures were demolished and recycled and used to complete the Earthworks on site in line with the Councils sustainability objectives. This project has met the aims and objectives set out by Waste & Recycling and is operating as intended, along as being well received by its users.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council officially launched the Killyfole Lough Water Recreation Project on Wednesday 14 June 2023 following significant improvement works which seen a total investment of over £800,000.

The Small Settlement Grants have enabled multiple works to be completed in the district

Improvements to the walkways at Belleek Marina, including walkways, resurfacing, fencing, information signage and parking improvements

Improvements to the façade of the Orange Hall

Improvements to pavements and at road crossing point also replacing of road kerbing and resurfacing of the existing Business Park road surface

The Grange Park ‘Destination Play Park’ officially opened in October 2022.The project transformed the former play park, into a state-of-the-art, inclusive ‘destination play park’ and represented another stepping stone in the Council’s ambitious Play Park Strategy for the district. The new play park was redeveloped around the theme of ‘bridges and spires’, reflecting the landscape and heritage of Omagh and also includes specialised inclusive play equipment as well as a sensory garden.

Grange Park, Omagh has been redeveloped to include the transformation of the existing play park into a state-of-the-art ‘destination play park’ as part of the Council’s ambitious Play Park Strategy for the District.