'Children of the Troubles' core of SEFF's 5th annual remembrance and thanksgiving

by Gráinne Connolly

Lisnaskea-based Victims Group South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) is holding its 5th Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving.

It's been organised on behalf of those who are innocent victims of terrorism as well as their grieving families.

Those who were physically and psychologically affected and those who care for them will also be remembered and saluted for their courage. 

The service will be held in Fivemiletown Methodist Church on Sunday 1st October at 3pm, Rev William Newell will be the preacher for the service. 

Speaking ahead of the service, SEFF's Director of Services Kenny Donaldson stated: 

"This years' Service is being held under the the theme; 'A Patchwork of Innocents' denoting a new Memorial Quilt which will be dedicated. 

"The Quilt will honour the lives of approximately 60 innocent victims including children murdered over the years of the terror campaign.

"Younger people will feature throughout the Service, with a special performance from SEFF's Youth Choir and there will be involvement from Fivemiletown based families impacted by terrorism who will share Bible Readings and Testimony reflecting on their experiences of terrorism." 

"SEFF invites the local community to come along and show solidarity with all those who have been affected as a consequence of Terrorism and other Troubles related criminal violence."

Within this particular quilt is a centerpiece dedicated to all of the children murdered, including the youngest victim Alan Jack who was only 5 months old. 

The patches will also remember the innocents of the Enniskillen Poppy Day Bomb, Adam Lambert who was murdered the day afterwards as retaliatory act by loyalist terrorists in a case of mistaken identity, and the victims of the Omagh Bombing. 

Below is some of the patches SEFF has created in the past in memory of victims of terrorism: 

https://seff.org.uk/galleries/memorial-quilt-patches-your-legacy-lives-on/

Representatives across these families will be in attendance, including Donna Maria Barker who's 12 year old son James was killed in the Omagh bombing. 

Q Radio has been speaking to Donna Maria ahead of the event and she said she's extremely humbled to be invited: 

"I'm very humbled and appreciative of what Kenneth is doing with putting James on the quilt. 

"I know I'm going to be sad, I'll be very sad but I'm doing this for James." 

This will be Donna Maria's first time coming back to Ireland since she left after the bomb, except for when her father died.

Despite vowing to never return, she's coming back for James' memory: 

"It's an amazing gesture and he will live on, in memory on this quilt."

Proceeds from the service will be used to further refurbishment works within the Church and will assist SEFF's Great Britain and Republic of Ireland outreach services. 

Other events are organised for the weekend in remembrance and thanksgiving, including the South Fermanagh Border Trail.

It's taking place on Saturday 30th September from 10.20am-2.00pm, which will be attended by SEFF's GB visitors, as well as a group of 20-25 visitors from Belfast. 

During that day the organisation will also be meeting with Army widows who have remarried but who consequently had their pensions removed. 

Widows from across Northern Ireland, including Fermanagh will be there, plus a widow from the Isle of Skye. 

There will also be political representatives attending the event such as Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, Rosemary Barton, UUP representative AND representative's from SDLP. 

They'll be joined by the RoI state, Head of PSNI Legacy, Senior Garda Siochanna reps and academics/historians.