BEFORE the horrendous tragedy in the early hours of yesterday morning, Derrylin was primarily known across the north for its association with the former Fermanagh billionaire Seán Quinn.
Born and bred in the rural village, located close to the Cavan border, the area remains very much synonymous with Mr Quinn and his once lofty empire.
Although the man himself is no longer involved, the multi-million pound business remains one of the biggest employers in the county and is recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of building products and consumer packaging supply in the UK and Ireland.
The Derrylin base remains central to the company’s operations, 45 years since Seán Quinn founded a small quarrying business at the family farm back in 1973. To this day Mr Quinn is still viewed by many in the locality as a hero due to the prosperity he brought to a remote portion of the county, illustrated best back in 2012 when a crowd of 4,000 turned out in neighbouring Ballyconnell to support the fallen tycoon.
The village has a population of 640 according to the last census and is situated 13 miles from the county town of Enniskillen on the main Dublin Road. The village centre features a number of shops, a pub and a small industrial estate and two schools.
At the heart of the Derrylin community is the local GAA club, Derrylin O’Connells. The club’s senior men’s team last won the Intermediate county championship in 2014 and count ex-Fermanagh senior manager and current Monaghan boss, Malachy O’Rourke as a former player.
