ENNISKILLEN Hockey Club have been presented with their Ulster Hockey Clubmark Bronze Award as they continue their successful reformation in recent years.
They are the first recipients of the award, which aims to identify, develop, accredit and recognise high quality hockey clubs and the contribution that they make to the development of the game.
The phoenix club were originally founded in 1974 but after almost 50 years of existence, they unfortunately folded in 2018.
However, after a short absence, the club reformed and began competing again in Ulster Senior 3 for the 2023/24 season.
Following their formation in 1974, the club soon embedded itself across Ulster with the first success coming in 1977 and winning the Intermediate Cup in 1979.
Their iconic McConnell Shield win of 1994 saw the club represent Ulster in the All-Ireland finals, coming out runners-up in a keenly contested final in Kilkenny.
In 1996, the Club gained promotion to Senior League 2 and were the first club in the West of the province to play and compete in Senior League hockey.
Success continued and the Club gained promotion, in 1998, to Senior 1 League which also saw the opening of a new artificial playing surface at the Bawnacre Leisure Centre, Irvinestown.
They continued to compete at a high standard of Senior hockey, with many members going on to represent Ulster and Ireland at inter-provincial level.
The 2017/18 season saw the Club go unbeaten in the league and take home the Junior Plate, scoring one of the highest goal tallies in the club’s history with 69 goals and only conceding 15.
While 2018 started off with a high for the club, it ended with the ladies no longer able to call the Bawnacre their home due to the playing facilities no longer being fit for purpose.
Enniskillen Ladies Hockey Club had to relocate, out of the county and Council area to Fivemiletown.
Now reformed, the club still face their challenges, such as travel to and from matches as well as having to move training to a surface that is not suitable for hockey.
However, despite the challenges, the club has begun to turn a corner, top of Junior 11, the side are beginning to see success on the pitch.
Grassroots has been pivotal to the growth of the club, and this was evident through periods of rebuilding and new players progressing through a very successful Junior Club.
The club continues to focus on junior hockey but are hindered with the lack of pitch provision.
Speaking on their Clubmark award, the club said: “The Ccub recently received the Bronze level Clubmark status from Ulster Hockey and we are so proud to say we are the first club in Ulster to achieve this status.
“As a club, we strive to bring hockey back to Fermanagh and continue our campaign to get a pitch.
“As the only club in the province with no pitch in their county, it is a testament to the volunteers, committee and members of the club that continue to raise the profile and awareness of our minority sport.”
