BY AUSTIN LYNCH
It would appear that summer has well and truly arrived in Fermanagh.With the exception of last Thursday and Friday, the county has enjoyed a prolonged dry spell with plenty of warm sunshine and rising temperatures.
After the washout that was Summer 2007, we had almost forgotten what sunshine was. And, ever the pessimists (and rightly so, with our track record), the people of Fermanagh seem determined not to let this good spell pass them by.
This means the summer clothes are out of the back of the wardrobe and the barbecues have been dusted down from their winter hibernation.
Unfortunately, some of us seem incapable of understanding the power, and the strength, of the sun. "Sure it's cloudy and, after all it's only May" we might say.
But, looking around on Monday, a lot of sun-worshippers were clearly caught out and are displaying sun burn and peeling skin aplenty.
With the good weather, peoples' spirits are lifted and there is a great atmosphere around Enniskillen as the island town basks in the early summer heat.
Ice-creams, and cool drinks, have been the order of the day as temperatures reached the early twenties on Sunday and Monday. And, with the fine settled weather to last towards the weekend at least, hopes are starting to rise that we may be in for a half decent summer - something which we all, rightly, feel we deserve one of these years.
But, has this good weather attracted many tourists to Fermanagh?
BUSIER
Heather Evans from the Tourist Information Office in Enniskillen reported that they have been quieter than previous years up until the last few weeks when, with the good weather, things have got busier.
Heather explains that, over the past week or two, they have been busier at the desk in the Centre.
"A lot of people have been coming in who are here in Enniskillen for the day', she said, " and are enquiring what is there to do in Enniskillen and Fermanagh for the day,".
According to Heather, people have been asking about walks around the area, boat trips and even where they can find picnic areas.
People are also asking about places to eat and things to do in Fermanagh.
"With the weather being so good recently, we have definitely had more enquiries and the centre has been busier of late" said Heather.
The Tourist Information Centre in Enniskillen is open seven days a week. The Centre's current opening hours are from 9.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday, from 10.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday and from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sunday.
