As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, the Fermanagh Trust is honouring 30 remarkable individuals whose commitment to their communities has made a lasting difference. Each awardee receives a £1,000 bursary to benefit the organisation they’re involved with. A gift that celebrates their service while investing in the future.
Among the latest recipients is Brian Farry. A founder, visionary and steady guiding force behind the Enniskillen Drama Festival for the past 45 years.
Brian Farry
In 1980, Brian was one of three founding members who helped bring together two local drama groups to form what is now one of the best-loved amateur drama festivals in the country.
“The Festival’s original committee was formed by bringing together the St Michael’s Drama Group and the Enniskillen Amateur Dramatic Society. Groups from different traditions coming together through the Festival. It became something that reflected all sides of the community. The Festival Committee has always been a real mix, people from every background. That’s how it should be. The arts are for everyone.”
From modest beginnings in the assembly hall of the then Fermanagh College, the Enniskillen Drama Festival was created to celebrate amateur theatre and encourage local productions, with a vision to bring a wide variety of performances to the broadest possible audience.
“In the early days when we had the Festival at the college, we saw the audience numbers go through the roof. It made one thing very clear: Enniskillen needed a proper theatre. The Festival was instrumental in making the case for the Ardhowen. The support was there, the audiences were there, the Festival proved it.”
As audience numbers soared, the momentum helped pave the way for the construction of the Ardhowen Theatre. Now the Festival’s permanent home and a cornerstone of Fermanagh’s cultural life.
“I’ll never forget Jimmy Ellis reflecting on the opening of the festival at the Ardhowen in 1986 and on a TV interview he said how, after the Second World War, when Eastern European countries were rebuilding, they’d build theatres first. That really stayed with me because theatre brings people together, it rebuilds the soul of a place.”
For Brian, theatre has always been more than entertainment. It’s a way to connect people, heal divides, and inspire dialogue.
“What’s driven me all these years? A sense of community, plain and simple. Enniskillen needed something to bring people together, and the Festival gave us that. There was a time when Enniskillen was crying out for cohesion. The Festival brought people into the same room, watching stories unfold.”
Through four and a half decades of tireless volunteering, day and night, year after year, Brian has helped stage almost 500 productions, watched by more than 70,000 people. As festival director for many years, he helped bring in amateur groups, providing a platform for diverse voices and storytelling that may otherwise never have reached Fermanagh.
“We’ve been lucky. People like Denzil McDaniel in the local media totally got what the festival was about, that it wasn’t just theatre, it was about community. He helped us tell that story year after year. The support from the community and local businesses is why we’re still here. You can’t run a festival like this on passion alone, it takes real backing. Fermanagh Trust’s bursary has been a fantastic addition, that £500 award for best performer helps someone move forward in the arts.”
A humble man, Brian has never sought the spotlight. But his leadership, integrity, and passion for the arts have left a profound and lasting impact.
“I don’t volunteer to get honours, I’ve always been a bit coy about that. But I do know the impact the Festival has had, and I’m proud of that.”
His peers agree. “To have done this for 45 years is extraordinary,” said one fellow committee member. “Brian is a sage counsellor and advisor. He gets the job done. His shoulders were there to lean on when I needed them.”
Still a central part of the committee, Brian continues to bring new ideas, calm wisdom and a deep belief in the transformative power of drama.
“For me, and indeed this is true for any volunteer, you don’t volunteer alone. You need someone beside you, someone who’ll do the heavy lifting and believe in what you’re doing. I’ve had that with my wife, and it’s made all the difference. My kids have seen me volunteer over the years, and now they’re out there doing the same in their own communities. That means a great deal to me.”
In a world that can often feel divided, Brian Farry and the Enniskillen Drama Festival continue to stand as a testament to the unifying power of the arts.
“Every play puts a mirror up to the audience. In every play, there’s a bit of you as a human being. It opens the conversation and makes us think bigger than ourselves.”
Know someone like Brian?
Someone who’s been the quiet driving force behind community events, volunteering, or the arts? Someone who inspires others and makes a lasting difference?
The Civic Honour Awards are part of the Fermanagh Trust’s 30th anniversary celebrations and include two categories:
Category 1: Inspirational Young Person – for under 30s making an outstanding contribution to community life.
Category 2: Community Impact and Legacy – for individuals who have dedicated 30+ years to service and leadership.
There’s no deadline, and nominations will be accepted throughout 2025.
CLICK HERE or email sonya@fermanaghtrust.org to find out more.