This episode of Lesser Spotted Ulster comes from Kesh. A village located in County Fermanagh, the Kesh river is located about one mile from lower Lough Erne making it a popular day trip spot.
Joe Mahon explores the area and meets local people who delve into what makes this village so unique. Beginning in the Fermanagh lake lands, Mahon sails down the lough onto the Kesh River, where he meets Alec Allen and Neville Armstrong. Alec, discusses the meaning of the village’s name 'Kesh', which comes from ceis, Irish for 'Wicker Bridge' as Kesh began as a crossing place on the Glendarragh River. The river has always been important to the economy of the villiage and as such has always been supported by tourists coming from Western Europe, however, Neville states that every year the local businesses are becoming increasingly more dependent on "foreigners coming in".
Next we meet, Dorothy and Brian Pendry who own Ardess House, which they've turned into a craft centre. Here, Dorothy teaches Mahon how to spin wool - with much struggle! - which has kindly been donated by Brian's sheep. Lastly, John Cunningham, a local historian, brings Mahon to a mass grave for victims of the famine. Whilst recounting the dire conditions which led up to the mass burial to be necessary, the story of Billy Mitchell, a graveyard worker is told.