Loughshore Lines was the brainchild of Ken Ramsey, who proposed that Fermanagh writers should invite creative responses to The Erne and the surrounding landscape, to include public performances in Ballyshannon, Cavan and Enniskillen. Some of the writers are well known, but some are published here for the first time.
On behalf of Fermanagh Writers I wish to thank each and every one of who helped make it possible.
Our thanks to the Esme Mitchell Trust for the grant of funds which enabled us to proceed to publication and the public performances, to Allingham Festival Committee for inviting us to be a part of their Festival and for the provision of facilities to host a workshop on public performance conducted by Paddy McEneaney.
I would also like to put on record our thanks to Monica Corish and Tom Sigafoos for all their help in getting the Ballyshannon end of the project up and running and for their help in publicising the call for submissions. Likewise, to Kate Ennals for all the work she has done on the Cavan end.
A huge thank you Jenny Brien for compiling and editing the anthology; to Dianne Trimble, our Secretary, for the effort she put in to organising the whole project, and to John James for naming the project. A special word of thanks to Blakes of the Hollow Enniskillen who hosted all our planning meetings and who are hosting our Enniskillen launch.
Of course, without all our contributors we would not have a project at all. My thanks to all of you, and if I have forgotten to thank anyone else, I apologise.
It is with a great sense of pride that I present to you these Loughshore Lines.
John Monaghan
Chair
Fermanagh Writers
November 2021
