With stunning views and gorgeous natural scenery, Fermanagh is filled with amazing spots to get up and watch the sunrise.
And that is exactly what Coná Gallagher and the Sunrise Social Fermanagh group have been doing in order to tackle loneliness and isolation felt over the past year.
Sunrise Social Fermanagh is a group for all ages, genders, religions, races who meet at different locations around the county every week for hikes, water activities, coffee and making friends.
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Coná, from Belcoo, recently moved back to Fermanagh full time due to the pandemic.
Speaking to MyFermanagh, she said: “I first came across Sunrise Socials on Instagram where I saw Caroline McKenna had started them over in Australia for people to meet at sunrise on the beaches during the pandemic.
The Sunrise Social Fermanagh members at one of their meetings.
(Image: Sunrise Social Fermanagh/ Instagram)
“It was mostly Irish people who couldn’t get home due to travel restrictions and it was a way for them to connect with each other during a difficult period.”
The idea has since taken off and Sunrise Socials are being carried out all over the world.
“It is difficult to make friends in your adult years, compared to school, and in the last year a lot of people’s situations have changed – they have moved home, moved to a new place or are working from home full time so meeting people is even more difficult.
“So we thought Sunrise Social Fermanagh would be a perfect way for people to reconnect with each other, make new friends and experience hidden gems within our own county,” she explained.
With meetups at Trory, Cladagh Glen, Topped Mountain and Lough Navar, the group has grown into a thriving new community that is creating positive relationships for people who have been struggling or those looking to reach out to people they would never socialise with otherwise.
Coná continued: “We meet at both sunrise and sunset to make them more accessible for those who can’t come early in the morning!
“They started in April and we are a volunteer-led organization.
Members of Sunrise Social Fermanagh
(Image: Sunrise Social Fermanagh/ Instagram)
“Since we have started we have had people come alone, and come back to other events with someone they met at a previous one, friends reconnect after several years and lots of new friendships forming of like-minded people.”
Looking to the future, Sunrise Social Fermanagh wishes to continue being a welcoming environment for all people across the county and create an enjoyable space right into the winter months.
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She added: “Our hope is to create a group where everyone feels welcome, promotes positive mental health and well being and is generally a safe space for people to come and meet new friends and experience new places and things.
“We hope to continue them all through the year even if it is just for a coffee throughout the winter.
“People have been isolated for so long it’s important for us all to get out and about and reconnect with others.”
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