Service

The Nixons have been members of St. Michael’s church for almost 60 years. This quiet country church has seen several of the Nixon women become Sunday school teachers as well as wives.

The third row from the back on the left hand side had been the “Nixon Row” during all these years and when family visit the church they can still be found sitting here.

Clare and her brothers were all christened at the church and attended the Sunday School along with their cousins.

Long before Clare and Jamie decided to get married this was always going to be the location for the wedding as it continues to be a special place for Clare.

Reception

The Killyhevlin Hotel is one of the most well-known hotels in the local area.

Clare’s parents had their wedding reception at the hotel 32 years ago and although the hotel itself has changed, the location on the lough remains the same.

Affectionately know as “The Killy” Clare’s aunt Rosemary can be found at the hotel having coffee all the time!

Fermanagh Style Directions

Click here to Print

Get to Belfast (by anyway you know)

Follow the signs for THE WEST

You will go out towards the Apple Green. Feel free to stop for munchies, Clare is a fan of a sugar strand doughnut from Greggs.

Once you are on the motorway, you will notice the bridges. All the bridges are numbered so on the way down to Fermanagh the bridges go up in number (11, 12, and 13). 49 is the last bridge. On the way, back the numbers go down the way. Fun game to play is to fall asleep in the car (not if you are driving) and see how many bridges you miss!

Keep going straight on the motorway. Look out for the River Bann as it marks the halfway mark. Congratulations!

At the end of the motorway is the Motorway Restaurant. They do a good fry for £4.95!

At the end of the dual carriage way is Ballygawley roundabout, you should take the second exit and head for Augher. There is a house in Ballygawley that Mummy and Daddy Nixon were going to buy if they won the lotto although it was more for the garden and hedges than the actual house.

Keep heading straight, the first town you are going to go through is Augher.

Clogher is next. Coming into Clogher there is a house on a hill on the left, which has Del Boy’s 3-wheel van outside it.

After Clogher is Fivemiletown (Augher, Clogher, Fivemiletown). Just as you are coming into Fivemiletown there is a chapel on the left hand side. There always seems to be weddings going on in that chapel every time we drive past! In the middle of the town on the left is the Valley hotel. Jamie and his party are staying there….hopefully he won’t be there when you drive past!

Keep going straight

Look out for a sign that says Colebrooke River. There should then be a white house on the left up a wee hill. That’s Arlene Foster’s home place! Fermanagh girls are dangerous with a bit of power! Let that be a lesson to you all!

Again, keep straight.

On the right, keep an eye out for Stonepark Baptist Church, Clare’s Aunt Heather lives in that side road. (She is Matron of Honour on the day so won’t be there either).

Head for Maguiresbridge. Now pay attention there will be a road off to the left, which brings you in the bottom of Maguiresbridge, you DO NOT want to take that road. Instead, carry on driving. You will then come to a left turn, which brings you in the top of Maguriesbridge; this is the road you want to take.

As you enter Maguriesbridge, you will see ORC on the left (garage on the right) ORC is owned by Clare’s aunt Elaine and Uncle Oswald. Drive on over the wee hump kinda thing and take the right turn where there is stonewalls. Should be a sign for Carrybridge pointing in that direction.

On the right hand side of the road, keep an eye out for Maguiresbridge Controlled Primary School. Nine Nixon cousins went to this school (Clare being the eldest), although it didn’t look like that in our day.

In September, the next generation of Nixons will beginning in the school. Arken is following in his mum Dawn’s footsteps. (Arken will be at the wedding so be sure to tell him you seen his school)

You are about to begin on one of the worst roads ever….drive slow….do not have any open liquids out either. If you are not bouncing about the place I would be, worried you weren’t on the right road.

On the left, there is Douglass window maker people, keep going straight. Look out for a farm on the right, the next house on the right is Clare’s aunt Elaine’s house. They might all be there when you drive past so feel free to toot the horn 🙂

Keep an eye out for Arken and Remy who will be waving at people passing by.

Go to the end of the road (I am aware how bad the road is but this is the heart of Fermanagh)

At the end of the road is a T-junction and you should take a right, again following the signs for Carrybridge. Take the next almost immediate left, followed by the next almost immediate right.

You should go over a small stone bridge.

Keep on this road until the end.

Along the road there will be a sharp corner with two houses at it…one of them is Mulligans (no idea which one)

On the left, there will be a bungalow with lots of flowers and a tunnel in the garden with farm buildings on the right. That belongs to Johnston’s. You’re almost there!

At the end of the road on the left, you should see a church carpark and then the church. Traditionally most people park along the wall but might be best to park in the carpark to avoid the chances of losing a wing mirror!

Welcome to St Michael’s Parish Church, Derrybrusk!

Hopefully Jamie will be there already and the Bride not too far behind you!