Easter event to celebrate legacy of Stephen McKenna

OMAGH will hold its first ‘Stephen McKenna Day’ on Easter Monday to celebrate the legacy of the ‘Bard from the Hill’.

The event will give Stephen’s family, friends and fans the opportunity to demonstrate the love that continues to abound for one of Omagh’s most cherished characters, three years on from his passing in 2019, aged 76.

Stephen was the enduring writer of the UH ‘s weekly
‘As The Man Says’ column
which ran for half a century, his humour, insight and understanding distinguishing him as one of the country’s foremost columnists.

It was one of Stephen’s close friends, Eugene Floyd, who came up with the idea to organise a day honouring his life.

Eugene said, “We have organised two events to take place this Easter Monday to remember and appreciate the wonderful life of Stephen McKenna, who was, of course, a towering figure in our local community.”

The day will begin with a historical walk around Omagh, led by Vincent Brogan, which will set off from the Strule Arts Centre at about 2.30pm.

The walk will take a few hours, and those who take part can expect to have their eyes opened to parts of our past they may never have seen before.

Eugene said, “Vincent, like Stephen before him, has a deep knowledge and rich appreciation of the history of our town.”

The second half of the day will take place in the comfort of Broderick’s Bar, where a projector will roll a compilation of footage showing Stevie, the polymath, at work and recreation in his various fields of expertise.

‘man of music’

Eugene said, “We hope to rekindle and recapture some of Stephen’s spirit on the day; he was a man of wit, travel and knowledge.”

He continued, “Stephen was a man of music who loved to sing a song and drink a pint, as anyone who attended the Weigh Inn for the Gallows Hill Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas gig can
attest to.

“ He loved to perform, and was a prominent figure in Omagh’s amateur drama scene too, making captivating appearances in many productions through the years.

“And, maybe his greatest attribute was that he had time for everyone, which I think was partly in his innate nature, but also a result of his love of travel.

“I recall his cousin, Margaret Hackett, once telling me, ‘Stephen once took me to Rome, a city full of hills, and he didn’t rest until he had me up every one of them’,” laughed Eugene, before concluding, “I hope we get a good turnout and that this becomes something which can grow year on year.

“I would encourage everyone to come celebrate the brilliant life of Stephen McKenna. I first met him in the 1960s and we became friends; I still miss him dearly today.”