Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum Annual Report 2022 Charity no. 100448 (www.charitycommissionni.org.uk)
The Trustees of the Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum are pleased to submit their report and accounts for the period 1 January – 31 December 2022.
Achievements 2022: Getting back on Track
In the year 2022, 77,132 visitors came to Enniskillen Castle to enjoy its facilities, services, collection displays, education sessions, temporary exhibitions and events programme. In additions to our own exhibitions and activities, we hosted large-scale music festivals, food and craft fairs, as well as ‘Our Coronation Story: Curated by the Local Community’ exhibition and events.
The work of Fermanagh County Museum was supported throughout by the Friends of Fermanagh County Museum.
Thanks to our Friends
In 2022, 181 donations were given to Fermanagh County Museum in addition to the support provided to purchase works for the collection.
As a result of the Friends support, the most significant public collection of T.P. Flanagan’s work now belongs to his native county, in recognition of the artist’s wishes. This unique collection was enhanced by a major new acquisition of paintings, secured with support from the Museum Friends along with assistance from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund support.
The T.P. Flanagan Collection Exhibition, on display in 2022, included recurring themes such as important paintings relating to ‘The Troubles’. Key connections with other artists and poets were highlighted such as T.P. Flanagan’s lifelong friendship with Seamus Heaney. Working methods were explored through an archive of sketch books, letters and photographs kindly donated by the artist’s family. A special morning was organised for the Friends on 12 March with Sarah McHugh, Sinead Reilly and Ulster University intern, Claire Browne giving a tour and talk around the collection. Afterwards, there was an opportunity to view Noelle McAlinden's 'Art of Conversation' film of insights from Helen Lanigan Wood and Lord Belmore into the development of our art collection.
Friends Annual Newsletters
In the Friends section on our website, you can now find past copies of the Friends Newsletters from 1985-2003. Some lovely memories and very familiar faces!: https://www.enniskillencastle.co.uk/get-involved/become-afriend/friendsannualnewsletters/
The Newsletter for 2022 is also available here.
Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum Annual Trip
On Saturday 3 September, the Friends enjoyed a Field Trip to coincide with the Fermanagh Tottehams exhibition. This fascinating tour focused on a distinguished
Fermanagh family, concentrating on family links to keys areas of interest locally. Led by Fermanagh Genealogy Centre members, Mervyn Hall, Frank McHugh and Frankie Roofe, the trip highlighted the Loftus-Tottenham legacy established in West Fermanagh, from the early links to Tully Castle, to later ownership of the Ely Estate from the 18th Century.
The Friends were given an insightful talk about Inishmacsaint Church by Richard Harkness and Mervyn Hall. The church was consecrated for public worship on 31 August 1831 by the Rt. Rev. Robert Ponsonby Tottenham, Bishop of Clogher. He was the father of Dean George Tottenham (his tenth son) who was later to become rector of the parish from 1865 -1903. Benmore House was the rectory; a special viewing of the grounds of Benmore House was arranged for the Friends. The trip concluded at Enniskillen Castle, where Friends viewed the exhibition and looked at original Inishmacsaint lace pieces under the careful direction of Fermanagh Genealogy Centre member, Mary-Anne Grant. A wonderful time was had by all!
Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum Administrative Details
Trustees & Committee:
Chair: Esdille Lappin. Proposed by Norma Heap. Seconded by Selwyn Johnston . Vice Chair: Séamas Mac Annaidh. Proposed by Esdille Lappin. Seconded by Selwyn Johnston .
Treasurer: Sam Robinson. Proposed by Norma Heap. Seconded by Marion Maxwell . Secretary: It was agreed to leave this role in abeyance for the current period unless someone stepped forward. In the meantime, the Museum Manager will nominate a member of staff to take minutes of the meetings.
Election of Members: Marion Maxwell; Norma Heap; Toni Johnson; Selwyn Johnston; Bernadette Layden; Mark Scott; Mary O’Donnell (7 in total, rather than 6 to compensate for fewer Officers elected). Plus Museum Manager, Sarah McHugh. Members proposed by Heather McFrederick. Seconded by Anne Cassidy All ratified.
THE ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS OF FERMANAGH COUNTY MUSEUM CONSTITUTION
1) Name
The Association shall be called The Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum and the official address shall be c/o Fermanagh County Museum, Castle Barracks, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 7HL.
2) Object:
i. The object of the Association shall be to further the interests of Fermanagh County Museum, through the activities of the Friends, and to that end:
a) In consultation with the Curator to assist with the development of the museum and its collection of educational exhibits and other records;
b) To participate in the activities of the museum and to encourage the wider knowledge, use, and enjoyment of its collections and facilities.
ii. The Association shall pursue the above object to the extent only that it is charitable and by charitable means only and shall be non-profit making.
3) Membership
i. Membership shall be open to two categories, individuals and corporate bodies who support the object of the Association and pay to the funds of the Association such sum as shall from time to time be fixed by the committee as the subscription for the particular category of membership applicable.
ii. Membership shall lapse if any subscription is unpaid six months after it is due.
iii. Honorary Membership
Persons who have rendered outstanding service to the museum or the Association may be elected by the Association to honorary life membership.
4) Committee
i. At the annual general meeting in each year the Association shall elect from its membership its officers and committee. The officers, namely a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer, shall each hold office for one year but shall be eligible for reelection. Similarly, the committee members will serve for one year and be eligible for reelection.
The Committee shall consist of the officers, together with six other elected members of committee, and the Curator of the museum and one other member of the museum’s staff nominated by the Curator who shall be, ex-officio, members of the committee. If a member of the museum staff be already elected to the committee, the curator will be empowered to make further nomination from the membership. Five members of the committee for time being, one of whom must be the Curator or the Curator’s nominee, shall constitute a quorum.
ii. Each candidate for election to the committee must be proposed and seconded by members present at the meeting, and if any candidate is unable to be present at the meeting then that person’s nomination must be accompanied by their consent to serve.
iii. If the nominations for the committee exceed the number of vacancies a secret ballot shall take place.
iv. The committee shall have power to fill any vacancies arising amongst the officers and committee members and shall have power to co-opt not more than five additional voting members during any one year.
5) Meetings
i. An annual general meeting of the Association shall be held in each calendar year. The business of the meeting shall include reception of the committee’s report and the audited accounts of the Association, and the election of the officers and members of the committee for the ensuring year.
- ii. Eight days’ notice of any general meeting of the Association shall be given in writing to each member.
6) Financial Provisions
i. The treasurer shall keep a full record of the income and expenditure of the Association. In accordance with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland requirements, the accounts of the Association shall undergo an external Independent Examination annually
and those accounts shall be presented to the members at the annual general meeting.
ii. In the event of the winding up of the Association, its funds and assets shall pass to such body having charitable objects as may be selected by a majority of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Association convened for that purpose.
7) Amendment
This constitution may be altered by resolution passed by a two thirds majority of members present and voting at a general meeting. The committee must give each member eight days written notice of any motion for such alteration, provided that no amendment is made which would cause the Association to cease to be a charity at law.
Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum Public Benefit
The direct benefit which flows from purpose 2.i.a of the Constitution includes increasing public access to and enjoyment of collections relating to the heritage of Fermanagh. The Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum has funded purchases for Fermanagh County Museum’s collection as well as provided match-funding, enabling the Museum to secure additional grant-aid from bodies such as the Art Fund, the Northern Ireland Museums Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
An additional benefit which flows from purpose 2.i.a includes the transfer of privately owned artefacts into the public domain through the Association’s encouragement of members to donate significant artefacts relevant to the Museum’s Collections Development Policy. Fermanagh County Museum is a fully Accredited Museum as part of the UK standards for museums and galleries administered by the Northern Ireland Museums Council on behalf of the Arts Council, England.
These benefits are evidenced through the Association’s funding assistance, since its inception in 1984, in helping to acquire over 50 key artefacts for the Museum for public display. The works include major acquisitions by artists of local and national significance including William Scott (1913-1989) and TP Flanagan (1929-2011) as well as rare examples of Belleek Pottery. In addition, in 2019, over 130 donations and bequests of artefacts were received and accepted by Fermanagh County Museum. This purpose does not lead to harm.
The direct benefit which flows from purpose 2.i.b of the Constitution includes increasing public understanding of and connection with Fermanagh’s rich heritage involving diverse audiences and communities. The Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum acts as an advocate and ambassador for the Museum Service. It encourages the contribution of knowledge and community expertise enhancing information relating to the history of the County and the Museum’s collections. It supports improvement of the Museum’s public facilities and services. These benefits are evidenced through increased public engagement. In 2019, over 85,000 people from the local community as well as tourists benefited from the Museum’s programme of collection displays, exhibitions, tours, schools workshops and events. Regular visitor feedback and independent evaluation of services through surveys and reports highlights increased audience participation and increased levels of satisfaction. This purpose does not lead to harm.
The Association’s beneficiaries are people of all ages, communities, abilities and faiths, with an interest in safe-guarding, discovering and enjoying the heritage of Fermanagh.
This includes both the local community and tourists. A private benefit to trustees may arise from our programme of ongoing training in good governance, finance etc. Through this training trustees gain skills and experience which are transferable to other settings. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries.
Annual report presented and approved, AGM 25 February 2023, and signed on behalf of the Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum:
Esdille Lappin Chair Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum