Could Belcoo Sports and Festival be affected by Brexit after 70 years?

by Gráinne Connolly

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Belcoo Sports and Festival located in County Fermanagh. 

The event kicks off tomorrow for a few days of community based activities and entertainment. 

The festival has a unique geographical location as it's closest neighbouring village is Blacklion in County Cavan - the two closes villages in Europe which are in different jurisdictions. 

A spokesperson for the festival says this year in particular is significant: 

"In the year of Brexit this relationship and this event in particular is of major significance as it could be the last time this event shall happen without some element of Border Control, which may shape how this festival is run in the future and we as a community rely on a lot of cross border and cross community support to ensure this event is a success." 

Tomorrow the festival will begin with the "highlight event", a 5k/10k cross border run which is jointly organised by running club from Belcoo and Blacklion. 

On Friday there's music and dancing in the marquee from country music star Mike Denver. 

Saturday is a event for with many kids attractions and a craft exhibition organised by artist Rita Duffy. 

This event attracts different pieces of work from different women's groups throughout the island of Ireland including many minority groups. 

The exhibition celebrates daily working relations which have developed since the abolishment of the border and now an opportunity to highlight the likely impact a hard border will have. 

It's been named the Soft Brexit craft exhibition and includes works from their local crochet group the 'Hookers', 

Internationally acclaimed Nuala Hayes will also be there to tell stories from an era when the border was there and how it was part of daily life. 

A picnic and dancing competition will follow later in the evening - the best jiver could win £1,000. 

On Monday there will be hosting a health and wellbeing fair. 

A large number of differing specialist and charity organisations. 

To finish the whole festival off there will be a sports day and cross border parade, followed by more events for all the family.