A Strabane nurse who has been highly praised for her community work in the town throughout the pandemic has said she only does it to put a smile on people’s faces.
Sinead McDermott is to be recognised by Derry City and Strabane District Council with a civic reception, alongside her sisters Anne-Marie and Mary, cousin Mary Patton and friend Hayley Devine, after the groups's most recent event in the Co Tyrone town, a Christmas fair.
The Altnagelvin Hospital nurse started to organise community bingo events on the street in Lampton Court in the town after the first lockdown in 2020, before being coaxed into running similar events in other parts of Strabane.
Before she knew it Sinead became the go-to woman for organising community events in the area, culminating in the Christmas fair which saw over a thousand people in attendance.
“I first started during lockdown when I started this street bingo for the wee residents here,” Sinead told MyTyrone.
“We started to run more of them then, and people were booking me in to come and MC on different streets to help them do theirs and it just took off.
“It was all about community and getting people back into that community spirit.”
Sinead added her passion for community spirit is one that has been passed down from her mother.
“I remember my mother and aunt organising things like that back in the day, where they would take buses of kids up to Portrush for the day," she said.
“We were coming from social deprivation, my mother had nine children and we couldn’t go away on holidays or anything like that so we got memories elsewhere by doing things like that.
“I suppose I have come along now and picked up from her. Not just me but my two sisters as well and a cousin and a friend of ours.”
The Christmas fair organised by the team of five volunteers was much enjoyed by the local community on the day.
Sinead added: “I didn’t expect it to go the way it did and people just love the whole atmosphere of going about the stalls and the wee ones loved it, it was all about them and the memories they make.
“I could never have predicted the success of it and the atmosphere was just second to none.”
SDLP councillor Jason Barr paid tribute to the five ladies for their efforts in recent months as he confirmed the council would host a reception at the Guildhall in Derry to recognise their efforts.
“Since the start of lockdown these five ladies have organised various events throughout the town to bring and spread a lot of much needed cheer during the restrictions,” Cllr Barr said.
“From community bingos, to fair days, to many other community events. They went above and beyond to bring so much joy when it was needed to the place they call home.
“Strabane and the wider area thanks you and this is just a small token of appreciation for all you have done.”
